Pitt's comeback bid comes up short, Clemson prevails in OT

Inside Pitt’s locker room, following the Panthers’ 78-75 overtime loss to Clemson on Saturday at Petersen Events Center, there are conflicting emotions.

On one hand, the Panthers (12-6, 3-4 ACC) overcame a 10-point halftime deficit, which grew to as much as 14 in the final half, battling back down the stretch of regulation to force overtime.

However, Saturday’s valiant effort wasn’t enough to snap Pitt out of its losing streak, which reached four and dates to Jan. 7.

“We’re down,” coach Jeff Capel said after the loss. “I mean, look, we’ve lost four straight, so we’re down. We’re a wounded group right now, but it’s a long season. For me, it’s not doom and gloom. I know it certainly (has been) outside for the past few weeks, but it’s not doom and gloom.

“I’m down, I’m disappointed — there’s nobody angrier than me or more disappointed than me … (but) I’m proud that we fought and we put ourselves in a position to win.”

Chipping away at their deficit in the second half to tie the score 57-57 with 8 minutes, 35 seconds left in regulation, the Panthers took the lead and stayed in front until about two minutes were left.

But with less than a minute to go, Clemson’s Chase Hunter and Jaland Lowe exchanged baskets to tie the score 66-66, sending things to overtime.

During the extra period, it was Hunter, who led all players Saturday with 20 points, who thrust the dagger into Pitt’s hopes for a win. With 14 seconds left, he drained a contested 3-pointer that effectively iced the game.

“Heck of a basketball game,” Capel said. “Two teams fighting and competing and battling. I thought both teams made big plays throughout, big baskets and big shots. Unfortunately for us, their guy Chase Hunter made the biggest one late in the game in overtime.”

Ishmael Leggett led Pitt with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, whereas Lowe and Cameron Corhen contributed 15 points each in the loss.

Clemson (15-4, 7-1) arrived at The Pete as the ACC’s top 3-point-shooting team and lived up to its reputation, hitting 14 of 27 (51.9%) of shots from downtown.

The Tigers shot 50.9% from the floor (27 of53), compared to Pitt’s 45.2% (28 of 62), and won the rebounding battle 32-30.

Pitt led for the opening nine minutes of the first half but from there fell into an increasingly deep hole as Clemson continued to light it up from long range.

Pitt got within four points with about six minutes left before halftime but faced a 40-30 deficit at the break.

Things appeared to be getting out of hand roughly five minutes into the second half, with Clemson taking a 53-39 lead. The Panthers managed to respond, getting within four points at the midway point and tying things up with 8:35 to go.

At the 5:43 mark, Leggett hit a 3-pointer that made the score 62-61 Pitt, giving the Panthers their first lead of the half.

From there, Pitt and Clemson remained locked within a basket of one another until overtime.

“Tonight, I loved our fight. I loved everything about who we were,” Leggett said postgame. “We didn’t fold under pressure. We were down 10 at half, but we kept fighting, kept fighting, kept fighting and stayed in the fight. It didn’t go our way today, but I love the way that we handled ourselves when we played.”

The Panthers came out swinging in overtime, with Lowe hitting the period’s first basket.

But five straight points by Clemson created a 73-68 Tigers lead with 2:17 left.

A 3-pointer by Lowe brought Pitt within two again but was quickly countered by a Chauncey Wiggins hook shot.

With 36 seconds left, Leggett scored to make it 75-73 Clemson, but on the Tigers’ ensuing possession, Hunter put things away with a 3-pointer.

For Pitt, Saturday’s loss marks the 13th straight to Clemson.

Not since March 8, 2014, under Jamie Dixon, have the Panthers beat the Tigers.

“Proud of my team for how we fought,” Capel said. “I felt we were ready to play. Got down early in the first half, fought back. Got down 14 in the second half, fought back, got the lead (and) made some plays. But it’s not enough. That’s the thing we have to figure out — it’s not enough.

“We have to be able to do more, sustain more, but again, I like the fight that we have. This has obviously been a rough two weeks for us, but we’ll keep plugging, we’ll keep pushing (and) we’ll keep trying to get better.”