PITTSBURGH (EYT) – Behind 21 points from Emile Blackman, heavy underdog Duquesne stunned Pitt, 64-55, in The City Game at PPG Paints Arena beating the Panthers for the first time since 2000 and for the third time in 19 years.
(Photo of Emile Blackman. Photo courtesy of Duquesne Athletics)
The Dukes (4-5) trailed by one, 48-47, with just under seven minutes to play after a Ryan Luther layup ended a 10-0 run for the Panthers (6-2). But a Rene Castro 3-pointer 25 seconds later ended a 6:35 scoreless drought for the Dukes giving Duquesne a lead it never relinquished.
Pitt closed to 53-51 when Luther hit one of two free throws with 4:18 to play, and the score remained the same until Mike Lewis II scored with 2:42 to play to put the Dukes up four, 55-51.
Forty-one seconds later, Luther fouled Lewis II as he was shooting a 3-pointer, and the freshman guard, who had 15 points, hit all three to make it 58-51. The Dukes then survived going 2 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final minute thanks in part to Pitt shooting 1-for-5 from the field down the stretch.
Shooting was a problem for the Panthers, who were without leading scorer Jamel Artis. Artis was suspended by head coach Kevin stalling for “failing to uphold the standards of a University of Pittsburgh basketball player.”
Without Artis, the Panthers shot 33.3 percent (20 of 60) from the floor and 3 of 22 from beyond the arc.
Still, Pitt led by 10, 30-20, with just over three minutes to play in the first half before Duquesne ended the half on a 9-0 run thanks to five points from Blackman to get within one, 30-29, at halftime.
A Blackman layup a 1:04 into the second half then gave the Dukes the lead, 33-32.
Pitt went back in front, 36-35, on a Chris Jones basket with 16 1/2 left in the game, but Duquesne answered with a Blackman three that started a 12-2 run that ended on a triple by Lewis II with 12:35 to play that put the Dukes up nine, 47-38.
But Lewis II 3-pointer was the last made shot by Duquesne in over 6 1/2 minutes before Castro hit the three that turned the momentum back in Duquesne’s favor.
Tarin Smith also reached double digits for Duquesne with 12 points.
Michael Young led Pitt with 19 points but had to work for his points thanks to the defense of Duquesne’s Darius Lewis.
Cameron Johnson added 14 points for the Panthers with Jones chipping in 11.
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