Virginia Tech Hokies vs Pittsburgh Panthers Match Player Stats On Feb 03, 2021

Xavier Johnson came off the bench to score a career-high 32 points as host Pittsburgh upset No. 16 Virginia Tech 83-72 Wednesday night in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Ithiel Horton scored 15 points and Au'Diese Toney added 14 for the Panthers (9-5, 5-4 ACC), who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Pitt's Justin Champagnie, who entered the week atop the conference in both scoring (20.1 points per game) and rebounding (12.1), grabbed 13 rebounds but was limited to 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field before fouling out in the final minute.

Keve Aluma led Virginia Tech (13-4, 7-3) with a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds. Justyn Mutts added 17 points and Hunter Cattoor scored all 12 of his in the second half before fouling out.

Pitt coach Jeff Capel decided to use Johnson in a reserve role to keep him out of foul trouble and the move worked.

Johnson, who leads the ACC with 6.1 assists per game, had started 78 of his previous 79 games in his three-year career at Pitt. But he fouled out with 11:28 remaining Saturday in an 84-58 loss to visiting Notre Dame.

Johnson scored 18 points in the second half, keeping the Panthers close while Champagnie was forced to sit midway through the half with three fouls. Johnson also had seven assists and five rebounds.

The Hokies, who lost for just the second time in their past six games, struggled from outside. Forwards Aluma and Mutts combined to shoot 17 of 28 from the field, but the rest of the Hokies were just 8-for-33.

Mutts' layup with 7:30 remaining pulled the Hokies within 57-55, but Pitt went on a 13-0 run over the next 3:06 to pull away. Horton and Johnson sparked the run with 3-pointers, Toney added a layup and a trey and Champagnie capped the run with a pair of free throws.

The score was tied at 31-31 at the intermission following a back-and-forth first half in which neither team led by more than five points.

--Field Level Media