Johnson ends slump, Pitt tops No. 16 Virginia Tech 83-72
February 4, 2021 GMT
PITTSBURGH (AP) Xavier Johnson has been a starter for 79 of the 81 games he’s played for Pittsburgh, but if he has more games like his effort Wednesday night against No. 16 Virginia Tech, he might take a liking to coming off the bench.
Removed from the starting lineup for the first time all season, Johnson scored 32 points to lead the Panthers past the Hokies 83-72.
The 32 points were a career high for Johnson and a Pitt record for points by a reserve in a game.
Johnson found out he wasn’t going to be starting just 10 minutes before the game. Coach Jeff Capel shook up the lineup in an effort to stop a three-game skid that coincided with a personal slump for Johnson, who scored a total of 26 points in the three losses.