Pitt
12-6,3-4ACC
Clemson
15-4,7-1ACC
Pitt Drops Overtime Battle with Clemson, 78-75
1/18/2025 3:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt battled back from a double-digit second half deficit and nearly won in regulation on an Ishmael Leggett halfcourt three that caromed off the back of the rim before falling to Clemson, 78-75, in overtime Saturday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center. Leggett finished with a team-high 18 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 14-of-27 (.519) effort from three by the Tigers.
Jaland Lowe and Cameron Corhen added 15 points for the Panthers, while Guillermo Diaz Graham(10 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Zack Austin (10 points, seven rebounds) also scored in double-figures.
Pitt jumped out to an early 11-6 lead before Clemson used an 11-0 run fueled by three three-point field goals to grab a 17-11 lead with 9:24 remaining in the opening half. The Tigers continued to use the three-ball to answer every Pitt run and entered the break leading 40-30 after a 10-of-16 (.625) effort from beyond the arc.
Clemson extended the lead to 14 points (53-39) early in the second half before Pitt's defense tightened and momentum shifted to the Panthers. Guillermo Diaz Graham and Leggett hit threes during a10-2 Pitt run as the Panthers got within six points at 55-49 with 11:23 remaining
Damian Dunn scored five points during an 8-0 run in a span for 2:10 to ignite the Petersen Events Center crowd. The Kinston, N.C. native came up with a steal on the defensive end of the floor and dribbled into a transition wing three to tie the game at 57 with 8:35 remaining.
Clemson pulled ahead by four points with 7:16 remaining but the Pitt defense forced four turnovers, including three shot clock violations over the next four minutes of action. Corhen scored on a driving dunk from the right elbow and Leggett knocked down his fourth three of the day to give the Panthers a 62-61 lead with 5:43 to play.
Dunn scored on a driving finish through the lane to extend the lead to 64-61 with just over three minutes remaining. The Panthers went cold from the field with a pair of missed threes as Clemson fought back to take a 66-64 lead on a Jaeden Zackery pull-up with 33 seconds remaining. Lowe answered back immediately and finished at the rim through contact with 19 seconds remaining.
Leggett stripped Chase Hunter on his pullup attempt with five seconds remaining. He grabbed the loose ball near the top of the key and took two dribbles before launching a halfcourt attempt that nearly ended the game in regulation.
Pitt struck first in overtime with a step back in the lane from Lowe, but Clemson answered back with a 7-0 run aided by a missed 1-and-1 and questionable offensive foul call. The Panthers continued to battle back first with a Lowe wing three to cut the deficit to two with 1:54 remaining and a Leggett floater to again cut it to two at 75-73 with 38 seconds to play.
Clemson ran the clock down to under 10 seconds when Chase Hunter launched a high-arching three from the left wing that found the bottom of the net to help seal the win over the Tigers. Chase Hunter finished with game-high 20 points, including 13 in the opening half, while Ian Schieffelin added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
ON THE BOARDS
Pitt held the rebounding advantage for the bulk of the game before Clemson used a late surge to pull ahead 32-30. The Tigers tied the game at 66 with under a minute remaining after getting a team offensive rebound following a strong defensive play by the Panthers. Clemson also took the lead in overtime after a loose ball rebounding scrum turned into an open three by Chauncey Wiggins. The Panthers are now 0-6 on the season when begin outrebounded.
Despite losing the rebounding fight, Pitt dominated the interior with a 30-16 edge in points in the paint and a 25-15 margin in second chance points.
G BRINGS A SPARK
Guillermo Diaz Graham gave the Panthers an energy boost early in the contest and helped shake up the Pitt offense from the five-spot with his floor spacing and decision making. The 7-0 junior knocked down three three-pointers, while adding four offensive rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a blocked shot.
HONORING A LEGEND
Pitt retired Sam Clancy's No. 15 jersey at halftime of Saturday's game as he joined Don Hennon (10), Billy Knight (34), Charles Smith (32), and Brandin Knight (20) in the rafters at the Petersen Events Center. Clancy, the only player in program history with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career, averaged a double-double in all four seasons at Pitt (1977-81) and holds school records with 1,342 career rebounds, 78 career double-figure rebounding games, and 66 career double-doubles. He also ranks 12th at Pitt with 1,671 career points and fourth with 170 career blocks.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will have a full week off before returning to action at Syracuse on Jan. 25 (ESPN2 – 12:30 p.m.)
