The basketball series was first played in 1932 . The cross-town rivalry between the two schools intensified quickly , and the development of bad blood between the two schools on the basketball court and in the boxing ring led to the cessation of series following the 1939 game until it was renewed in 1953 . The rivalry reached its peak when both schools again found themselves members of the same athletic conference , the Eastern 8 ( originally named the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League in its first season of 1976 – 77 , formally the Eastern Athletic Association , and renamed the Atlantic 10 Conference following the 1981 – 82 season ) , from 1976 to 1982 . During this period , the head coaches of Pitt and Duquesne , Tim Grgurich and Mike Rice respectively , were alumni of their schools and had played against each other in the 1960s . There was genuine dislike between coaches and players , and during these contests fights frequently broke out between players , and sometimes among fans . The series of games between the schools during the years that both were members of the Eastern 8 was won by Pitt 9 – 7 . Duquesne and Pitt have met once in post-season play , not including two Eastern 8 Tournament games , which resulted in a 65 – 63 Duquesne victory over the Panthers in the first round of the 1980 NIT at the Civic Arena . However , the competitiveness of the series has waned since Pitt left for the Big East Conference beginning in the 1982 – 83 season as Pitt has now won 32 of the last 35 games
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
City Game