Men’s Basketball: Offensive efficiency helps Pitt past DePaul

The Pitt men’s basketball team finished the regular season with its most efficient offensive performance of the year.

Knowing only a victory would keep hopes of earning a double bye in next week’s Big East tournament alive, the Panthers (24-7, 12-6 Big East) defeated DePaul by a score of 81-66 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.

The Panthers began the game on a 9-0 run, and the hot shooting continued throughout the first half as Pitt converted on 19 of its first 25 shots to grab a 46-35 halftime lead against one of the Big East’s worst teams.

That trend continued in the second half, with junior forward J.J. Moore knocking down several 3-pointers to help the Panthers maintain their advantage for the rest of the game. Pitt finished the contest shooting an incredible 72 percent from the field.

Moore led the Panthers with 21 points thanks to a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night, while senior point guard Tray Woodall tallied 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Pitt will learn its conference-tournament fate after Notre Dame faces Louisville at 4 p.m. The Panthers need a Notre Dame defeat to clinch the No. 4 seed and a double bye. The double bye would allow head coach Jamie Dixon’s squad to rest until Thursday in what will be Pitt’s final appearance at the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City.