Rutgers @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 62, Rutgers 67

Freshman Justin Champagnie couldn't find the mark in the first half of the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament championship game on Wednesday against Northwestern but stepped up and led his club in the second half. The Panthers will try to build off the momentum of their 25th all-time tournament title when they play host to Rutgers in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Tuesday.

Champagnie missed his first eight 3-point attempts but drained back-to-back 3-pointers in the second half to push Pitt's lead to 56-43 with 5 1/2 minutes to play, then buried another shot beyond the arc when the Wildcats got within six to help seal the 72-59 victory and finish with a season-high 21 points. "You know for Justin as a freshman in what - I think this is his eighth game - you know, for him to miss shots the way that he did, but to have the confidence in himself to not hesitate is a big-time thing," Pitt coach Jeff Capel said of Champagnie, who took over the team lead in scoring. Rutgers, coming off a 82-57 demolition over Massachusetts in which four players reached double figures for a fourth consecutive game, will play its first true road game of the season and second game away from home. Both teams are extremely young, with the Scarlet Knights starting one junior and four sophomores, while the Panthers lined up with a freshman, two sophomores, a junior and senior in its most recent game.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT RUTGERS (6-1): Geo Baker (team highs of 13.6 points and 4.1 assists) had 17 points, while Ron Harper Jr. (13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds) contributed 15 points to spark a 53.4 percent shooting performance highlighted by nine slam dunks, including seven after the break. "I liked how we attacked, especially in the second half," said coach Steve Pikiell. "We weren't trying to get fouls, we were trying to attack and score." The Scarlet Knights had 54 points in the paint - most since 60 against Central Connecticut on Dec. 6, 2016 - while their 34 fast-break points were the most in four seasons under Pikiell.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (6-2): Champagnie (team-high marks of 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds) shot 9-of-20 from the floor, including 3-of-11 on 3-pointers, and added six rebounds in being selected tournament MVP (16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds) in wins over Kansas State and Northwestern. Xavier Johnson (10.6 points, 4.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds in 2019-20) finished with 11 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while senior Eric Hamilton added 10 points and 12 rebounds for his second consecutive double-figure rebounding game and third of his career. The Panthers are 25th nationally in scoring defense (58.8) and have held seven of eight opponents under 40 percent shooting.

TIP-INS

1. Rutgers and Pitt will match up for the 49th time, with the Scarlet Knights holding a 25-23 advantage in the series.

2. Rutgers is second in the Big Ten in blocks (6.0) and steals (7.6), third in scoring defense (59.9) and turnovers forced (15.71).

3. Pitt plays at No.1 Louisville on Friday in ACC play. The Panthers beat Florida State in their season opener.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 75, Rutgers 70