PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers suffered a frustrating 63-52 defeat on the road against No. 22 Clemson, hampered by ineffective shooting and foul trouble that proved insurmountable. This marks Pitt’s second loss to the Tigers this season, following a narrow 73-68 setback at the Petersen Events Center on January 3. The Panthers now endure a 15-game skid against Clemson dating back to 2015, after an initial 3-0 start against their ACC rival upon joining the conference before the 2013-14 season.
Game Overview
Pitt drops to 9-13 overall and 2-7 in ACC play, enduring four losses in their last five outings. Clemson, meanwhile, climbs to 18-4 overall and a strong 8-1 in conference action. The contest remained tight early, with Pitt trailing by just two points, 13-11, at the 10:37 mark. Five different Panthers contributed to the scoreboard, led by senior guard/forward Barry Dunning Jr. with four points.
Foul issues quickly mounted for Pitt, a team that typically rotates only seven to eight players. Freshmen forward Roman ulepa and center Kieran Mullen each accumulated three fouls in the first half, while senior forward Cameron Corhen and sophomore guard Brandin Cummings picked up two apiece. This limited Pitt’s options as the period progressed.
First-Half Collapse
Offenve woes intenfied for the Panthers, who connected on just 2 of 16 shots over the final 10 minutes of the first half, shooting a dismal 12.5%. Clemson capitalized, hitting 5 of 11 field goals and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc to forge ahead with a decive 20-4 run, entering halftime with a 33-16 advantage. The Tigers distributed scoring among eight players, with senior guard Butta Johnson topping the group at eight points, including two three-pointers.
Pitt’s first-half performance hit rock bottom, making only 6 of 28 field goals (21.4%), 2 of 18 threes (11.1%), and 2 of 5 free throws. Their 16 points marked a season low for any half.
Second-Half Push Falls Short
The Panthers showed relience after the break, improving their offenve flow and keeping the game competitive. ulepa returned strong, tallying 10 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting. Corhen and freshman guard Omari Witherspoon each added eight points to fuel the rally. Pitt narrowed the gap to nine points, 39-30, at the 14:40 mark.
However, Clemson responded with an 11-2 surge over three minutes, extending the lead to 62-42. The Panthers mounted a late charge, trimming the deficit to 11 points by game’s end. Clemson managed just one free throw in the final 4:30, while Pitt closed on a 10-1 run, highlighted by two three-pointers from fifth-year guard Damarco Minor.
Key Stats and Performances
Clemson showcased depth, with all nine active players scoring and their bench outpacing Pitt’s 26-6. The Tigers went 17-for-20 from the free-throw line and drained eight three-pointers overall. Junior forward Carter Welling and redshirt senior forward/center Nick Davidson paced Clemson with 12 points apiece, while senior forward RJ Godfrey contributed 10.
For Pitt, ulepa and Minor led with 12 points each. Minor sank four threes, and ulepa nearly posted a double-double with nine rebounds. The Panthers struggled from deep at 5-for-26 but held an edge in the paint, 33-26.
