No. 18 Pitt Falls On The Road To Mississippi State In ACC

No. 18 Pitt Falls On The Road To Mississippi State In ACC

Hugley’s Dominant Performance

Despite the loss, Hugley stood out for Pitt, putting up a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, his eleventh double-double of the season. He also had three blocks, showcasing his all-around impact on the court.

Mississippi State’s Second Half Surge

Mississippi State flipped the game in their favor in the second half, outscoring Pitt 43-33. They shot 50% from the field in the final 20 minutes, compared to Pitt’s 32%. The Bulldogs also hit 9-of-16 from three-point range, while the Panthers made just 5-of-20 from beyond the arc.

Takeaways

The loss is a setback for Pitt, who had won four straight ACC games before the trip to Starkville. They remain in the top half of the ACC standings, but the defeat will likely hurt their NCAA Tournament seeding.

For Mississippi State, the victory is a big boost to their NCAA Tournament resume. They are now tied with Kentucky for third place in the SEC standings and have a chance to make a run in the conference tournament.

Looking Ahead

Pitt will return home to face Virginia Tech on Tuesday in an ACC matchup. Mississippi State will host No. 2 Alabama on Saturday in a rematch of their January meeting, which the Bulldogs lost by three points.