Gallery: Syracuse drops 1st conference game to Pittsburgh, 72-61

Pittsburgh players exit the tunnel before the Panthers matchup with Syracuse on Wednesday night at the Petersen Events Center. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Interim Syracuse head coach Mike Hopkins walks out of the tunnel at the Petersen Events Center. Syracuse lost to Pittsburgh 72-61 Wednesday night. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Hopkins stands during the national anthem with his right hand over his heart. After Pitt, he has two games left as head coach before Jim Boeheim returns from his suspension. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Malachi Richardson (23) looks on in Syracuse's tight contest with Pitt. He scored 10 points, drilling 4-of-7 shots from the field. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Point guard Michael Gbinije (0) splits Pitt forward Sheldon Jeter (21) and guard Damon Wilson (3) on his way to the basket. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Forward Tyler Lydon (20) matches up with Jamel Artis (1) as the Pitt forward goes to the hoop. Lydon scored just five points and grabbed just four rebounds. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Syracuse forward Dajuan Coleman rises above a Pitt defender to lay the ball up to the rim. Coleman struggled in the paint scoring just two points, collecting one board and fouling out. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Gbinije tries to lay in a bucket as two Pittsburgh defenders look on. He scored 14 points and dished seven assists. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Syracuse guard Trevor Cooney (10) scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds against the Panthers. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon raises his hands on the Panthers bench. Syracuse is just 2-10 against Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Tyler Roberson (21) rises to the rim. The forward scored 15 points and led Syracuse with seven rebounds. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Chinonso Obokoh runs back through the tunnel at the Petersen Events Center. After scoring a career-high 11 points against Montana State, Obokoh has played fewer than five minutes in the last two games. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Roberson walks off the court at the Petersen Events Center. He had one of his best games of the season. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Lydon lies horizontally on the court with his right leg on top of a Pittsburgh player. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Jeter flexes his arms and opens his mouth as he jogs down the court. He had 11 points in 23 minutes. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Cooney rises for a 3 as Syracuse trails by one point with left than five minutes left in the contest. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Gbinije is surrounded by two Pitt defenders in the paint. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Dixon squats low to the ground as Gbinije dribbles on offense. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Richardson positions along the side of the basket as the ball grazes his fingertips. He finished with one rebound in 33 minutes. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Gbinije stands near the perimeter of the court as a Pittsburgh defender sticks a hand immediately in front of his face. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Members of Pittsburgh's student section, the Oakland Zoo, toss shreds of paper into the air while cheering on the Panthers. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Cooney claps while walking away from the basket. He's been successful from behind the arc recently after snapping an 0-for-11 3-point streak earlier this season. Sam Maller | Staff Photographer