Pitt
Iowa
No. 14 Iowa Edges Pitt in Final Seconds, 69-68
11/27/2018 11:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) In a fiercely contested ACC/Big Ten Challenge game, No. 14 Iowa held off Pitt, 69-68, Tuesday night.
The Hawkeyes (6-0) have also taken down Oregon and Connecticut this month.
Pitt (6-1) put itself in position for the upset but missed two shots in the final 10 seconds that would've given the Panthers the win.
Pitt freshman Xavier Johnson made two free throws to make it a 69-68 game with 40.7 seconds left. Iowa's Connor McCaffery then missed a 3 at the shot-clock buzzer.
Tyler Cook grabbed the rebound - only to miss both ensuing free throws. Trey McGowens and Sidy N'Dir each had chances for the game-winning shot, with Iowa only securing the victory when N'Dir's desperate turnaround jumper went awry.
Johnson had 18 points to lead Pitt.
THE TAKEAWAY
Pitt: The Panthers have to be more than a little encouraged by their first performance on the road. They shot the lights out in a venue they've never played in before and knocked Iowa's potent offense off its rhythm for much of the night.
Iowa: It's too early to tell if this will end up being remembered as a November clunker - nearly every team in America has at least one - or a troubling sign that the Hawkeyes' defense, a major problem a year ago, is still too leaky. Still, Iowa got the stops it needed late.
UP NEXT
The Panthers face city rival Duquesne in downtown Pittsburgh.
Iowa hosts the Badgers on Friday in its Big Ten opener.
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