Pitt Men's Basketball Beats Penn State 82-76
Pitt extended its season-opening winning streak to three games with a home victory over Penn State at the Palestra.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
Pitt Men's Basketball defeated Penn State 82-76 on Sunday, November 8, at the Palestra in Philadelphia. The win moved Pitt to 3-0 to start the season.
Why it matters
The victory gives Pitt an unbeaten start to the season against a conference opponent in its home building. Penn State's late surge fell short, leaving the Nittany Lions searching for a response.
Penn State made 29 of 36 free throws compared with Pitt's 15 of 22, and Pitt won the paint 48-30. Sumner led all scorers with 26 points in the 82-76 final.
The players
Sumner
Sumner led all scorers with 26 points in Pitt's win over Penn State.
The details
Penn State led in whistles early and built a 35-28 halftime cushion after three late first-half turnovers by Pitt. Pitt rallied behind Jay Rodgers' tying three-pointer, Jonathan Powell's go-ahead dunk after a steal, and a 10-5 run that Chase Foster capped with an and-one layup.
Timeline
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Pitt defeats Penn State 82-76 at the Palestra.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Pitt travels to face Butler at 6:30 p.m.
Season Trajectory
Pitt's 3-0 start keeps the Panthers unbeaten through the first three games of the season. A home win over a Penn State team that had its own late push adds early conference credibility for Pitt heading into a road game at Butler.
Pitt's next game is a Friday night road trip to Butler, a matchup that could shape early-season standings for both programs. Fantasy and betting interest in Pitt's rotation may hinge on how the foul trouble for Naithan George, Baye Ndongo, and Akir Souare resolves before that game.
The takeaway
Pitt's start shows that a team can win a physical game at the Palestra even while losing the free-throw battle, as long as it controls the paint and late-game runs. Watching how the Panthers manage foul trouble will be the key early-season signal.
What happens next
Pitt travels to face Butler on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Further reading
Follow the latest coverage in our Basketball section for more on college and pro teams in the region.
