Patterson leads Pitt to 73-56 win against Cal Poly

Follow @NateBarnes_TPN

Lamar Patterson provided a vehement response to Pitt’s first loss of the season, as he scored 30 points in 30 minutes to lead the Panthers (11-1) to a 73-56 win against Cal Poly (4-7).

“I had no doubt that he wouldn’t respond in a positive manner,” head coach Jamie Dixon said. “He’s been so good all year long.”

Patterson helped key a 14-2 run in the first half that gave Pitt a 22-8 lead with 7:33 left in the first half. Patterson re-entered the game and drilled a pair of 3-pointers, then converted an and-one chance after he was fouled on a layup when Talib Zanna found him cutting to the basket. 

“I saw the first one go down and they gave me another look so I shot that one,” Patterson said. “Talib hit me on that cut and I did a good job just following through for these guys.”

Beside Patterson, Durand Johnson was the only other Panthers in double-figures with 12 points off the bench. Pitt shot over 46 percent from the field and accumulated 19 assists on 27 made baskets. 

The increased efficiency marked a severe improvement over Tuesday, when the Panthers shot 31.4 percent at Madison Square Garden. Dixon said patience was an emphasis in recent days and that manifested in Patterson’s big game. 

“The shots he took were all wide-open and usually after a pass or ball-reversal movement,” Dixon said. 

Cal Poly stayed close, and pulled within three points of Pitt in the second half at 37-34. But like many times before, the Panthers pulled away again and continued to build a 17-point lead. 

The Mustangs were able to keep up with Pitt due to solid 3-point shooting early on, as the made five of their first 13 tries. But as Pitt managed to eliminate its defensive breakdowns, Cal Poly made only 2-of-13 the rest of the way. 

Meanwhile, Pitt continued to wear down Joe Callero’s Mustangs while building a 17-point final margin. 

“I think the physicality of the game caught up to us,” Callero said. “I think our legs went out a little bit. You could see Pitt getting stronger in that period: shots, rhythm, feel of the game.”

But Saturday’s story was Patterson, whose 30-point game was the first for a Panther since Sam Young scored 32 against Oklahoma State Mar. 22, 2009 in the NCAA Tournament. The performance was also the first 30-point game scored at the Petersen Events Center since Young scored 33 against Belmont Nov. 25, 2008.

In addition, Patterson is now a single point shy of the 1,000-point plateau with 999 career points. Patterson’s next point will make him the 42nd Panther to reach that milestone, and he’ll have the chance to do so Dec. 31 at home against Albany.