COLUMBUS, OH. — On Friday afternoon, Pitt shocked Ohio State at Value City Arena on a Zack Austin game-winning three at the overtime buzzer.
After missing his first attempt of the game, Ohio State’s Meechie Johnson opened up the scoring with a corner three. Pitt quickly answered the Buckeyes’ early punches, with buckets from Ishmael Leggett, Cam Corhen, and Amsal Delalic — who started for the first time this season.
After nine minutes of play, Pitt trailed 19-16, as Ohio State’s Johnson caught fire for eight early points, including two three pointers. For Pitt, Corhen was the first player to make two baskets.
Despite OSU’s Sean Stewart heading to the bench early with two fouls, the Buckeyes stole the momentum early, building up a quick eight-point lead on red-hot shooting. Ohio State began the game shooting 4 for 6 from three-point range — but it wasn’t just the outside game that killed Pitt. The Buckeyes made a combined six dunks and layups from the 14-minute mark to just under the seven-minute mark in the first half. Those buckets came as part of a red-hot streak in which the team made 13 of 14 shots.
While Ohio State continued to find great looks offensively, Pitt’s offense kept it in the game. Jaland Lowe and Leggett made tough shot after tough shot early, while Delalic, Austin, and freshman Beebah Cummings also powered through Pitt’s defensive struggles to score.
At the half, Ohio State led 48-39 over the Panthers. The Buckeyes shot 69% (20 for 29) in the first half, and 67% (6 for 9) from three-point range. The Panthers went into the half having made 9 of their last 11 field-goal attempts, and finished the half at 56% shooting and 43% from three-point range.
To open the second half, the Buckeyes made their first three shots. Corhen picked up his third foul early, and Diaz Graham went down with an injury. The Panthers turned to redshirt freshman Papa Amadou Kante off the bench for his first minutes since the VMI game.
Pitt hung around, but the Buckeyes continued to dominate on the offensive end. After Pitt’s Austin made another three pointer, OSU’s Stewart threw down a massive alley-oop slam on the other end, extending the Buckeye lead back into double digits, 57-46, with 16 minutes to play. Kante then fouled his defender, who missed two foul shots. Then, Kante made a layup, and on the other end, forced a jump ball. The Panthers used Kante’s energy as a spark, and after a bucket from Leggett, narrowed the lead down to just six.
The Panthers kept their foot on the gas, extending their run to 17-6 overall since Kante checked in on a three from Leggett. After an Ohio State foul, Leggett threw a pass down to Kante, who drained an and-one layup through contact and converted the free throw, giving Pitt a 59-57 lead. The Panthers then scored on a Leggett layup minutes later, extending the lead to 61-57.
Ohio State’s scoreless streak continued for more than seven minutes, until Devin Royal made a free throw to trim Pitt’s lead to three. However, as he has done all season, Pitt’s Lowe silenced the crowd with a layup.
The silence only lasted seconds, though. Pitt’s Micah Parrish then drained a three pointer through contact, converting the four-point play and cutting Pitt’s lead to just one in a matter of seconds.
After a Leggett miss, OSU extended its own run up to 6-0. However, after earning a stop on defense, Pitt looked to Austin at the top of the key on offense, who drained his third three pointer of the game to regain the lead for Pitt. However, the Buckeyes would not stop fighting. Parrish hit yet another three minutes later, extending the Buckeyes’ lead up to four.
Lowe hit a pair of free throws for Pitt with 2:24 to play, cutting OSU’s lead down to one point, 73-72. However, after yet another three from Parrish — his fourth of the game — the lead was up to five for the Buckeyes late.
Once again — the Panthers weren’t done fighting. After a big three from Austin and a stop on defense, Pitt’s Kante grabbed a big offensive rebound which eventually led to a prayer of an attempt from Lowe: a runner with the defender in his face.
After earning one more stop on defense, Pitt had the ball with 2.3 seconds left in a tie game, 77-77. After a three-quarter court heave from Leggett missed, the game went into overtime.
In the extra period, Kante scored Pitt’s first point with a free throw. However, an early bucket from OSU’s Thornton and two free throws from Royal gave Ohio State a four-point lead with 3:23 to play in overtime. Leggett quickly answered with a layup, but OSU countered with several free throws and built up a six-point lead.
In the final 30 seconds, Lowe missed a three-point attempt to tie the game. However, the Panthers fouled OSU, and after a missed free throw, Lowe was fouled on another three-point attempt with 7 seconds to play in OT. He made all three free throws, and Pitt then fouled Royal, who once again made just one free throw. After Lowe took the ball up, he found Austin, who drained the game-winning shot.
Delalic started in Damian Dunn’s absence. Dunn is currently out for over a month after undergoing thumb surgery.
With the win, Pitt advances to 7-1 on the season. The Panthers will next travel to Starkville, Mississippi to face off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs of the SEC.
This team is so fun to watch. Again. Three teams in a row filled with good kids and great players.
Never saw refs so trigger-happy as they were in this game and it almost ruined the action. Glad the ending made it worth the watch.
Best game I’ve seen in years. Ohio State shooting over 50% and they still got beat in their own house. Looks like Papa Cante can be a real contributor going forward.
Lowe will have a long career in NBA. He is really good. Where was Papa in previous games?
Wait until they get Dunn back. Could be a nice run in March.