Pitt
North Carolina
No. 15 Pitt Falls to No. 18 North Carolina on Criteria, 17-16
2/7/2025 10:41:00 PM | Wrestling
PITTSBURGH – The 15th-ranked Pitt wrestling won five consecutive bouts to take the lead but dropped the final match and fell to No. 18 North Carolina, 17-16, on the third criteria tiebreaker Friday night at the Fitzgerald Field House. The Tar Heels edged the Panthers 52-49 in total match points to secure the victory.
Pitt (9-4, 2-2 ACC) faced a 13-0 deficit after dropping four-consecutive bouts to a quartet of top 25 foes to begin the match. No. 23 Dylan Evans shifted the momentum after stunning No. 18 Sonny Santiago by a 4-1 decision with a takedown as time expired in the 157-pound match. With the victory, Evans improved to 16-5 on the year, while earning his sixth win in his last seven matches.
Jared Keslar picked up another crucial win for the Panthers in the 165-pound match with a 4-1 decision and No. 18 Luca Augustine won last second match at for the Panthers to cut the deficit to 13-9. Augustine trailed 5-4 with 20 seconds remaining in the match but held on to secure the reversal to win the match 6-4 as time expired.
With Pitt trailing by four, No. 13 Reece Heller earned a come-from-behind win over No. 22 Gavin Kane, 7-6, cutting the Panthers' deficit to one with just two bouts remaining. No. 10 Mac Stout then extended his individual winning streak to 15 consecutive matches with a dominant 11-2 major decision victory at 197, giving Pitt a 16-13 lead going into the final match of the night.
Despite leading 3-1 after the opening period, No. 13 Dayton Pitzer fell to Nolan Neves on a 14-9 decision, resulting in a 16-16 tie at the end of the match. After review, North Carolina earned the dual victory due to the third criteria tiebreaker - total match points scored only from decisions, major decisions, and technical falls. Neves secure the victory for the Tar Heels with his final takedown in the third period to bring North Carolina's total match points to 52.
UP NEXT
The Panthers travel to Ames, Iowa to face No. 14 Iowa State at the Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Feb. 9 (2 p.m. – ESPN+).
No. 15 Pitt 16, No. 18 North Carolina 17
125: No. 13 Spencer Moore (UNC) dec. No. 23 Nick Babin (PITT), 6-4 (North Carolina leads 3-0)
133: No. 12 Ethan Oakley (UNC) dec. Tyler Chappell (PITT), 4-1 (North Carolina leads 6-0)
141: No. 22 Jayden Scott (UNC) dec. Anthony Santaniello (PITT), 4-2 (North Carolina leads 9-0)
149: No. 5 Lachlan McNeil (UNC) maj. dec. No. 23 Finn Solomon (PITT), 9-1 (North Carolina leads 13-0)
157: No. 23 Dylan Evans (PITT) dec. No. 18 Sonny Santiago (UNC), 4-1 (North Carolina leads 13-3)
165: Jared Keslar (PITT) dec. Charlie Darracott (UNC), 4-1 (North Carolina leads 13-6)
174: No. 18 Luca Augustine (PITT) dec. No. 16 Joshua Ogunsanya (UNC), 6-5 (North Carolina leads 13-9)
184: No. 13 Reece Heller (PITT) dec. No. 22 Gavin Kane (UNC), 7-6 (North Carolina leads 13-12)
197: No. 10 Mac Stout (PITT) maj. dec. Cade Lautt (UNC), 11-2 (Pitt leads 16-13)
285: Nolan Neeves (UNC) dec. No. 13 Dayton Pitzer (PITT), 14-9 (Tied, 16-16)
North Carolina wins on the third criteria tiebreaker (total match points scored), 17-16
Attendance: 1,033
Players Mentioned
