Pitt Shoots the Lights Out in 80-63 Backyard Brawl Win Over WVU

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In the 190th edition of the Backyard Brawl, Pitt shot the lights out from deep in an 80-63 win over WVU on Wednesday night.

Pitt (6-3) F Blake Hinson helped get the Panthers off to a good start from three. Pitt shot 16-of-38 from three (42%), while Hinson finished with 29 points. The Panthers capitalized on a 14-2 run mid-way through the second half to run away with the game.

Quinn Slazinski answered many Pitt baskets towards the end of the first half. Slazinski connected on an and-one layup with 11 seconds to send WVU (3-5) into halftime just down one point. Slazinski ended the game with 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field.

WVU big man Jesse Edwards got to an electric start of his first and only Backyard Brawl, throwing down an alley-oop onto Pitt’s Federiko Federiko. Edwards recorded 20 points and nine rebounds.

WVU F Akok Akok (health) was cleared to return to the court against Pitt on Wednesday. Akok had been out since the George Mason exhibition on Oct. 28 when collapsing on the floor during the second half. Akok checked into the game early in the first half to a stand ovation from the Mountaineer faithful. Akok played eight minutes with two rebounds and two blocks.

WVU Basketball revealed their new black uniforms prior to the Backyard Brawl versus Pitt. The uniforms incorporate the black, gold and blue together with “West Virginia” across the chest. West Virginia has not worn black in basketball since the early-2010s. The infamous uniforms are mostly remembered for the 2010 run to the Final Four. That team’s leading scorer, Da’Sean Butler, is currently an assistant for the Mountaineers. West Virginia has teased the return of the black uniforms for the last week.

This was the last Backyard Brawl scheduled in basketball for the meantime. WVU interim HC Josh Eilert says that the conversations are being had between WVU AD Wren Baker and Pitt AD Heather Lyke to revive the series once more.

Heading into the game, West Virginia won six in a row against Pitt in basketball, dating back to 2012.

West Virginia will take a few days off before returning to the coliseum on Saturday before hosting Drexel. The Mountaineers and Dragons will tipoff at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.