Pitt Opens Season with 74–59 Win over Youngstown State

The Pitt men's basketball team secured a 74-59 victory against Youngstown State on Monday night at the Petersen Events Center, marking the fourth straight season-opening win for the Panthers in the 2025–26 season.

Game Summary

Youngstown State led during the early part of the game, but Pitt took their first lead at 20-19, thanks to a three-point play by Cameron Corhen. After a brief Youngstown State 6-0 run, Pitt shifted momentum with a strong defensive effort.

In the final 5:34 of the first half, Youngstown State struggled, making just 1-of-7 shots and committing three turnovers. Pitt capitalized with a 14-3 run, going into halftime with a 34-28 lead. Corhen’s three-pointer gave the Panthers the lead for good at 30-28, and Damarco Minor closed the half with four points, including a contested baseline jumper.

Second Half Highlights

Pitt extended their lead to double digits in the second half. Youngstown State responded with a six-point run, narrowing the gap to 54-50. However, Pitt maintained control as Nojus Indrusaitis made two free throws, followed by Minor’s jumper and a dunk that pushed the lead back to 10 points.

"The Panthers never trailed again after closing the first half with a 14-3 run."

Youngstown State fell to 0-1 for the season following the loss.

Key Players

Cameron Corhen – pivotal three-point play and crucial shots in the first half
Damarco Minor – scored four points at the end of the half and contributed in the second half
Nojus Indrusaitis – important free throws that helped maintain the Panthers' lead

Season Outlook

Pitt’s strong start with a resilient defense and clutch scoring bodes well for their opening games this season.

Author’s summary: Pitt showed defensive strength and clutch scoring to close out Youngstown State, confidently starting the 2025–26 season with their fourth consecutive season-opening win.

pittsburghpanthers.com — 2025-11-05