Late run lifts VCU over Pitt in consolation round of Legends Classic taken in Conshohocken, Pa. (Pitt)

Pitt Athletics

Pitt forward Blake Hinson goes up for a layup during Thursday's game against VCU at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. -- A 9-0 scoring run spear-headed by Brandon Johns, Jr. with 2 minutes to play proved as the decisive factor in a 71-67 VCU win over Pitt on Thursday in the Legends Classic consolation game in New York.

Johns scored five of nine points in succession, which gave the Rams a 61-60 lead with 1:35 to play. Pitt's Blake Hinson missed a 3-pointer on the other end, and Zeb Jackson was fouled by Fede Federiko, and made both free throws to put the Rams up 63-60 with 1:22 left.

Greg Elliott missed a 3 going the other way for Pitt, and Jayden Nunn hit a pair of free throws to cap off the run and put the Rams at a 65-60 advantage with 56 seconds left. The Rams closed out with another free throw from Nunn, two converted freebies from Jackson, and a dunk from Johns.

The Panthers (1-3) once again succumbed to foul trouble, turnovers, and poor shooting from beyond the arc. Pitt accumulated 27 personal fouls as a team, which included Guillermo Diaz Graham fouling out, and four others playing through four personal fouls. The Panthers committed 18 turnovers, including five from Nelly Cummings (while he had zero assists), and they shot 22.7% (5-for-22) from 3-point range.

Over its last three games, Pitt has made 16 of 65 3-pointers, or 24.6%.

Hinson paced the Panthers on 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Jamarius Burton added 14, Cummings 11, and Jorge Diaz Graham 10.

After playing 22 minutes on Wednesday in the 31-point loss to No. 20 Michigan, Pitt forward John Hugley IV (left knee) did not play on Thursday.

THE ESSENTIALS

• Box score
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Top 25 scores
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Schedule
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ACC standings
• 
Statistics

THE HIGHLIGHTS

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THE 5s

Pitt: G Nelly Cummings, F Blake Hinson, F Greg Elliott, F Jamarius Burton, C Fede Federiko.

VCU: F Jamir Watkins, G Zeb Jackson, F Jalen DeLoach, G Jayden Nunn, F Brandon Johns, Jr.

THE INJURIES

• DID NOT DRESS: F Will Jeffress (left foot), F John Hugley IV (left knee), G Vason Stevenson (DNP - coach's decision)

THE SCHEDULE

• The Panthers return home to face Alabama State at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Petersen Events Center. I'll have you covered on Sunday at The Pete.

THE CONTENT

• Visit the Pitt team page for more Panthers coverage. You can listen to the latest episode of the H2P Podcast below.


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