PITTSBURGH — In two games against NC State this season, Pitt came up just a few possessions short of a series sweep.
Instead, the Panthers lost their second game to the Wolfpack in 2019 on Saturday, dropping an 79-76 decision to NC State at Petersen Events Center on Saturday afternoon.
The first matchup between the teams resulted in an 86-80 loss at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, a heartbreakingly close loss for the Panthers.
In the rematch in Pittsburgh, Pitt trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half, but used an 18-2 run to close the gap and set up yet another close late-game scenario.
Pitt had a final look at a victory, but senior guard Sidy N’Dir’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed off the iron, sealing another close loss to NC State.
CJ Bryce, who made three free-throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the game for the Wolfpack, finished with a game-high 21 points.
Point guard Xavier Johnson led the Panthers with 17 points. He shot just 5 of 12 from the floor, but hit 6 of 7 from the free-throw line.
Senior wing Jared Wilson-Frame came alive in the second half, hitting three from long range in that Pitt run to finish 6 of 7 from the floor for 16 points.
NC State sophomore Braxton Bevery was an outside-shooting menace, hitting 5 of 9 from long range as part of his 17 points.
N’Dir, who started his first game with Pitt, finished with 12 points, as did Terrell Brown. Trey McGowens had 11, as all five Pitt starters scored in double figures.
Redshirt junior wing Malik Ellison missed the game with an undisclosed injury.
Up next, Pitt will head to Boston College on Tuesday night. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
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