Pitt Basketball
No. 11 Louisville Escapes Pitt in OT, 73-68
PITTSBURGH – After an 18-point loss to Louisville in early December, Pitt did everything it could Tuesday night to prove that a whole lot can improve for a young team in a month’s time.
Well, except finish.
This time around, Pitt stumbled down the stretch to fall to No. 11 Louisville, 73-68, in overtime at the Petersen Events Center. In a game that left the Panthers (11-6, 2-4) wondering all that could have been, Louisville (14-3, 5-1) closed the second half on a 7-0 run to force overtime and outscored the home team, 12-7, in the extra period to ultimately escape.
Pitt held a lead for 33 of a possible 40 minutes in regulation and remained in control throughout most of the second half until the Cardinals cut the deficit to two (56-54) with four minutes left. At the 1:08 mark, David Johnson’s free throw tied the game, 61-61, before Trey McGowens missed a 3-point attempt on the other end that would have won it.
With 23 seconds left in OT, Terrell Brown tipped in a second-chance layup that would have tied the game at 70, but instead was called for a questionable offensive foul that negated the bucket. Louisville hit both free throws on the other end to put the game out of reach.
Pitt began the game on a perfect 4-for-4 mark from beyond the arc with 3s from Ryan Murphy (2), Justin Champagnie (1) and McGowens (1). With 12 minutes left in the first half, Pitt then used a 7-0 run to amount a 24-15 lead as Louisville missed seven straight shots on a 3:21 scoring drought. But a subsequent four-minute drought for the home team, its sixth in seven games, allowed the Cardinals to climb back and tie the score at 26. After a pair of lead changes, the Panthers stretched a three-point advantage into halftime thanks, in large part, to Louisville shooting 33 percent (10-30) from the field.
Jordan Nwora and Dwayne Sutton led Louisville with 14 points and 13 points, respectively. McGowens finished with 24 points on 8-for-22 shooting. Champagnie added 11 points and 11 rebounds while Xavier Johnson ended with 11 points and five assists. The Panthers shot a collective 38 percent (21-56), including 37 percent (7-19) from beyond the arc, and outrebounded the Cardinals, 39-37.
After consecutive losses to Miami and now Louisville, Pitt looks next to a home contest with North Carolina on Jan. 18.
That league makes me sick. The stripes stole that game from them. No foul on Brown. It just never changes. Both sports get shafted on a regular basis. Disappointing end to a great effort.
What happened with the phantom foul on X?
To me it looked like the refs were looking for chances to call fouls when Pitt made aggressive plays. I didn’t see those calls when Louisville did the same things.
Picture at top of your article is good example. Hands over Trey to interfer with jump and left leg flexed at knee to impede progress to basket.
That wasn’t a foul, it was a warning for flopping.
can you say up and under move….