Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Venue: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: ESPN+
The Pittsburgh Panthers, sporting an 8-2 record, are set to face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, who sit at 5-4, in a highly anticipated matchup at Petersen Events Center this Wednesday.
In their most recent outing, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels secured a convincing victory over Campbellsville with a score of 98-62. The Colonels committed 13 fouls compared to Campbellsville’s 17. From beyond the arc, they made 8 of 18 three-point attempts. On the free-throw front, Campbellsville struggled, converting only 2 of 6 shots for 33.3%. Despite missing blocks, Campbellsville collected 34 rebounds (10 offensive and 24 defensive), recorded 10 assists, and earned 6 steals. Defensively, Eastern Kentucky allowed opponents to shoot 41.3% (26 of 63). The Colonels notched 16 assists and forced 17 turnovers, leading to 11 steals. In total, they amassed 55 rebounds, with 25 of those on offense. At the foul line, Eastern Kentucky converted 14 of their 28 attempts, achieving a 50.0% success rate. Their shooting stats concluded with a field goal percentage of 43.2% (35 out of 81) and a 41.2% mark from three-point range (14 out of 34).
George Kimble III was a standout player, contributing 23 points on 8 of 18 shooting. In 23 minutes on the court, he also grabbed 5 rebounds and recorded 3 assists with a shooting efficiency of 44.4% from the field.
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This season, Eastern Kentucky holds a 5-4 record. They average 11.2 turnovers and commit 17.1 fouls per game. The team brings in 39.4 rebounds per matchup and has recorded 127 assists, ranking them 217th nationally in passing. Their efficiency from long range stands at 31.7% (82 of 259), paired with a 64.1% free throw conversion rate. This season, they score an average of 78.6 points per game, ranked 123rd in Division 1, while shooting 42.9% overall.
On the defensive side, the Colonels force 16.7 turnovers per contest and draw 16.1 fouls. They allow opponents to make 33.9% of their three-point attempts and are 205th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (71.9). Eastern Kentucky has a defensive shooting percentage of 46.0% (233 of 506) and gives up an average of 36.4 rebounds per game. They rank 137th in the nation for assists surrendered, with 114 allowed this season.
In their last outing, the Pittsburgh Panthers edged out Virginia Tech with a score of 64-59. The Panthers achieved a total of 30 rebounds (21 defensive, 9 offensive) and turned the ball over 11 times while securing 9 steals during the match. Virginia Tech was assessed 11 fouls, allowing the Panthers to reach the charity stripe for 12 attempts, of which they converted an impressive 100%. Pittsburgh’s three-point shooting was less effective, making just 6 of 28 tries (21.4%). The team ended the game hitting 41.1% of their shots from the field (23 of 56), while allowing Virginia Tech to make 43.4% of their shots (23 of 53). The Panthers also finished at 32.0% from three-point territory, knocking down 8 of 25 attempts, and shot 71.4% from the free-throw line (5 of 7). Defensively, the team allowed Virginia Tech to gather 27 total rebounds, including 6 offensively.
Key player Jaland Lowe played a pivotal role, finishing with 19 points after converting 6 of 16 shots for a field goal percentage of 37.5%, along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 40 minutes of play.
Pittsburgh’s current record stands at 8-2. In terms of offensive performance, they are shooting at a 46.8% clip from the floor, ranking them 108th in the NCAA. The Panthers have accumulated 802 points this season, averaging 80.2 points per game, and securing 37.0 rebounds per contest. They distribute 13.5 assists per game, ranking 220th in the country, while averaging 10.0 turnovers. Defensively, the Panthers commit 16.5 fouls per game and exhibit a solid free throw percentage of 76.9%.
The Panthers rank 111th in college basketball for points allowed per game, with an average of 68.1. They force opponents into 13.0 turnovers each game and restrict shooting to 41.7% (130th nationally). Pittsburgh’s opponents shoot 30.4% from three-point range (66 of 217) and convert 68.0% of their free throw attempts. On average, they allow 11.4 assists and 34.3 rebounds (ranked 84th and 175th respectively).
Free Pick: Bet on Eastern Kentucky (+20.5)
