PITTSBURGH — The calling card of the Pittsburgh Panthers is superiority on the boards. Rebounding is the first thing head coach Jamie Dixon will usually cite when breaking down a game, regardless of outcome.

So it’s no surprise that, as the Samford Bulldogs out-rebounded the Panthers, Pitt was almost upset by its opponent chosen to finish last in the Southern Conference.

Facing a five-point deficit nearly 13 minutes into the game, Pitt sparked up an 18-5 run that propelled the Panthers to a 63-56 victory.

Samford’s competition surprised the Panthers after the Bulldogs were blown out by 40 points Friday night at Purdue. After that game, Padgett told his team it needed a “phenomenal effort” to even have a shot at winning.

“That’s the hardest I’ve seen us play,” Samford coach Scott Padgett said. “And we needed it.”

Pitt wasn’t supposed to face a real test for another nine days, when the Panthers head to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational.