For teams such as Pitt, it can be difficult to gauge what to expect from low- to mid-major foes during nonconference play, such as Hofstra, the Panthers’ Sunday afternoon opponent at Petersen Events Center.
However, the Panthers and Pride own a common opponent in Central Florida, with Pitt falling by 10 Nov. 20 and Hofstra losing by only four Nov. 3 in its season opener.
But given Pitt already has dropped one game this year to lower-tier Quinnipiac, Hofstra of the Coastal Athletic Association shouldn’t have been overlooked by coach Jeff Capel or his players.
After a 80-73 defeat at home to the visiting Pride, the Panthers now have a fresh disappointment to overcome in the same vein as their loss to Quinnipiac.
The Panthers (5-5) trailed by as much as 16 in the first half and 17 in the second. Multiple times around the midway point of the final half, Pitt came within three points, but for the remainder of the game couldn’t close the gap.
That was despite a heroic effort by Brandin Cummings, who dropped a career-high 34 points on 10-of-15 shooting.
Cummings’ prior high as a college player came against Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 11, 2024, when he scored 30.
But his effort was exceeded by that of Hofstra’s Cruz Davis, who led all players with 36 points, taking 25 of his team’s 55 total shots.
As a team, Pitt shot 45.8% (22 of 48) from the floor and 43.5% (10 of 23) from deep.
Aside from Cummings, Barry Dunning Jr. (13 points) was the only Panther to score in double digits. Cam Corhen and Damarco Minor scored seven each.
Pitt started the game hitting 2 of 9 shots from the field, with Hofstra missing its first five shots.
A low-score start to the first half followed, with the Pride (5-5) on top 12-9 at the under-12 media timeout.
Coming out of the break, Cummings got Pitt within one with back-to-back baskets, making it a 14-13 affair with a bit over nine minutes left before halftime.
Over the ensuing minutes, Hofstra pulled ahead behind a 7-0 run, with Jaeden Roberts hitting a 3-pointer at the 6:56 mark to put his team up 23-16.
After a Nojus Indrusaitis basket cut Hofstra’s lead to five, the Pride distanced themselves from the host, holding Pitt scoreless during an 8-0 run.
With 3:04 left in the half, Victory Onuetu’s dunk made it 31-18 Pride.
Finally, about 20 seconds later, Omari Witherspoon produced a bucket for Pitt, but with 1:47 to go, Hofstra was back up by 16 on a 3-pointer by Davis.
Corhen drained a jumper and ensuing free throw that went for the first half’s final points, but after 20 minutes, Hofstra led 36-23.
Hofstra scored the first four points of the final half to go up 40-23 in the first minute.
Two 3-pointers by Cummings in the opening minutes gave Pitt a bit of life and with 16:40 to play, the Pride led 43-30.
When Witherspoon drained a 3 from the corner, making it a 43-33 game, Hofstra coach Speedy Claxton called timeout to regroup.
It was another shot from downtown by Cummings that got Pitt a bit closer at the 13:55 mark, as the Pride’s lead was trimmed to 45-38.
Minor added a 3-pointer 52 seconds later, as the Panthers crept to within 47-41.
After Cummings put down a pair of free throws following the under-12 media timeout, Pitt was within 50-45.
Pitt, continuing to ride Cummings, made it a one-basket game multiple times around the midway point of the final half, as the sophomore guard hit a fadeaway jumper and two more free throws, to eclipse his previous season-high of 17 points.
However, with 7:56 to play, Hofstra was back in front by 10, 62-52, thanks in part to a 3-pointer and tip-in by German Plotnikov.
Less than two minutes later, the Pride were back up by 13 as Davis hit a 3-pointer to increase his individual contribution to 32.
Down the stretch, it was Cummings who continued to try to single-handedly lift Pitt back into the game.
He hit his fourth 3-pointer with about six minutes left and was fouled on another 3-point attempt shortly thereafter before making all his free throws.
But with 4:27 to go, Hofstra remained in front 69-60.
With 97 seconds to play, Pitt’s deficit remained nine, 74-65.
In the final minute, the Panthers were forced to foul, and Hofstra closed things out at the free-throw line.