Pitt
14-9,5-7ACC
North Carolina
14-10,7-5ACC
Pitt Buzzer Beater Comes Up Just Short as Panthers Fall at North Carolina, 67-66
2/8/2025 8:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, NC – Pitt delivered a strong team effort to overcome a hot shooting North Carolina team but came up just short as Ishmael Leggett's jumper in the lane as time expired came up just short in a 67-66 loss Saturday evening at the Dean E. Smith Center. Saturday's contest featured 13 lead changes and 11 ties but the Panthers missed three shots in the final 20 seconds after North Carolina grabbed a one-point lead on an RJ Davis stepback near the top of the key with 52 seconds remaining.
Jaland Lowe missed a pair of shots along the left side of the lane with 22 seconds remaining before the Panthers (14-9 overall, 5-7 ACC) grabbed a final opportunity to get the win after North Carolina (14-10, 7-5 ACC) missed a pair of one-and-ones in the closing 19 seconds of action.
Pitt secured the rebound on the second missed one-and-one and raced up court to call timeout with 13 seconds remaining. The sideline out-of-bounds play was blown up when Leggett was tackled coming off a screen and the ball was knocked into the backcourt with both teams diving to gain possession before it went out on North Carolina with seven seconds left. Leggett took the ensuing inbounds pass foul line extended and worked down the right side of the lane before playing through contact to get off jumper in the lane that hit the top front of the rim before bouncing off.
North Carolina came out hot making eight of their first nine shots to pull ahead 24-14 with 10:30 remaining in the half. The Tar Heels extended the advantage to 30-19 at the 6:41 mark on a Ven Allen Lubin putback before Pitt settled into the contest. The Panthers responded with a 10-0 run from the 5:07 to 2:08 mark and knotted the score at 32 on a Brandin Cummings three with 1:33 left in the half.
The Tar Heels converted three free throws in the final 87 seconds of the half to enter the break with a 35-32 advantage.
Pitt grabbed the lead, 39-37, early in the second half on a Zack Austin three with 18:01 remaining before North Carolina used a pair of threes to spur an 8-0 run and grab a 47-41 lead. Guilllermo Diaz Graham drilled a three on Pitt's next possession and the final 15:32 of the game was played within a three-point margin.
Austin's three with 10:07 remaining gave the Panthers a 51-48 but North Carolina answered back with a three from Drake Powell. The game took a negative turn for the Panthers on the next possession as Damian Dunn was knocked to the ground on a driving layup and Guillermo Diaz Graham's putback attempt was deflected at the rim sending the Pitt bench an uproar for a goaltending call. North Carolina was able to leak out and get to the free throw line on the play as Dunn had to be helped to the locker room with a game-ending left arm injury.
Austin again gave the Panthers a lead, 58-56, with his third three-pointer of the game with 6:24 remaining. Seth Trimble converted a three-point play at the under four media timeout to give the Tar Heels a 63-62 lead, but Lowe countered with a pair of free throws as Pitt pulled ahead. Lowe also answered a North Carolina bucked with a driving finish with 2:03 remaining for 66-65 lead.
Pitt got a stop on the next possession and had a chance to extend the lead but a post feed to Corhen was deflected away for a turnover with 1:19 left. The Panthers had a solid defensive effort but Davis was able to clear space with a stepback 17-footer with 52 seconds remaining.
Davis finished with a game-high 18 points, while Lubin had a big night with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting for the Tar Heels.
Corhen led the way for the Panthers with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line. Lowe added 15 points, while Leggett and Austin both finished with nine points and six rebounds. Austin also had three steals and two blocked shots.
Dunn was a catalyst for the Panthers prior to going out with the injury. He had six points, six rebounds, and five assists as the Panthers were playing through the Kinston, N.C., native prior to the injury.
UP NEXT
Pitt continues its road trip Tuesday, Feb. 11 at SMU (9 p.m. – ACC Network).
