Hinson shines in return, leads Pitt past UT Martin in opener

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Blake Hinson had 27 points and 13 rebounds and Pittsburgh cruised past UT Martin 80-58 in a season opener on Monday night.

Hinson shot 9-for-18 from the field, including 4-of-12 3-pointers, and went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.

It was Hinson's first game since the 2019-20 season. He averaged 9.1 points per game and made 91 3-point field goals at Mississippi before transferring following his sophomore season. Hinson sat out the past two seasons at Iowa State due to medical reasons (2020-21) and a coaching change (2021-22).

Federiko Federiko had 13 points and seven rebounds, Greg Elliott scored 11 points and Jamarius Burton added 10 points and seven assists for the Panthers.

The Panthers are 79-36 all-time in season openers. Pitt is 15-2 in season openers at the Petersen Events Center and has won 22 of its past 25 season opening contests.

John Hugley IV, Pitt's leading returning scorer after averaging 14.8 points per game last season, did not play. Hugley IV has missed four weeks of the preseason and both exhibition games with a knee injury.

KJ Simon led the Skyhawks with 11 points.

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