Panthers basketball avoids upset in season-opening win

Panthers Basketball Avoids Upset in Season-Opening Win

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt men’s basketball team opened the 2025–26 season with a convincing 74–59 win over Youngstown State at the Petersen Events Center on Monday night. The victory marked Pitt’s fourth consecutive season-opening win, while Youngstown State fell to 0–1.

First Half: Pitt Takes Control

Youngstown State led in the early minutes, but Pitt captured its first advantage at 20–19 after a three-point play from Cameron Corhen. The Penguins responded with a 6–0 run before the Panthers stepped up defensively and shifted momentum.

Over the final 5:34 of the half, Youngstown State managed only one field goal on seven attempts and committed three turnovers. Pitt closed the period on a decisive 14–3 run to take a 34–28 halftime lead.

Cameron Corhen’s three-pointer gave Pitt a 30–28 edge, while Damarco Minor capped the half with four straight points — two free throws and a tough baseline jumper.

Second Half: Panthers Pull Away

Pitt extended its advantage to double digits midway through the second half. Although Youngstown State rallied to cut the margin to 54–50 with a quick six-point burst, the Panthers maintained composure and controlled the tempo until the final buzzer.

Key Stats

Final score: Pitt 74, Youngstown State 59
Halftime score: Pitt 34, Youngstown State 28
Pitt’s fourth straight season-opening victory
Youngstown State record: 0–1

Summary

The Pitt Panthers overcame an early deficit and used a dominant 14–3 first-half run to secure a confident season-opening home win over Youngstown State.

Altoona Mirror — 2025-11-04