PITTSBURGH - A Clash to Remember: Irish Fall Short Against Panthers
In a thrilling showdown at the Petersen Events Center, the Fighting Irish (12-15, 3-11) faced off against the Pittsburgh Panthers (10-17, 3-11) and came up just short, losing 68-73. The game was a tale of two halves, with both teams struggling to find their groove early on before heating up in the second half.
The first half was a defensive battle, with the Irish managing only 20 points, their lowest first-half total of the season. Despite their cold start, they trailed by just three at the break.
The Irish showed resilience, erasing an 11-point deficit in the second half to take the lead with 6:30 remaining. However, a decisive 15-3 run by Pitt gave the Panthers the cushion they needed.
A late surge from the Irish brought them within three, but time ran out, sealing their fate with a five-point loss.
Pitt found their rhythm in the second half, shooting an impressive 63.6% from the floor and 60% from beyond the arc. Overall, they finished at 44.9% from the field and 45.8% from three-point range.
The Irish, while struggling from deep with a 23.7% success rate, improved in the latter half, scoring 48 points and shooting 50% from the field. Their 38 attempts from three marked a season high.
Cole Certa was the standout for Notre Dame, scoring 16 points, with 14 in the second half and 11 in the final 1:25. Logan Imes and Ryder Frost contributed 12 points each, with Imes adding eight rebounds and three assists. Frost was sharp from distance, hitting 4 of 5 from three.
Carson Towt dominated the boards with 13 rebounds, adding seven points and leading the team with four assists.
Game Breakdown
Notre Dame's defense came out strong, forcing Pitt into a 1-10 shooting start and four early turnovers. Yet, the Irish couldn't capitalize, finding themselves down 7-12 after Pitt hit three triples.
The Irish offense struggled initially, but Sir Mohammed's aggressive play off the bench provided a spark. A quick 7-0 run, led by Frost and Imes, briefly put Notre Dame ahead, only for Pitt to respond with a 6-0 run of their own.
Despite their offensive woes, Notre Dame trailed just 20-23 at halftime. The teams were nearly identical in shooting percentages, with Pitt slightly ahead from three.
The second half saw a more energized Irish squad. A four-shot possession, thanks to offensive rebounds from Towt and Imes, led to a crucial three-pointer by Imes. However, Pitt answered with an 11-2 run, extending their lead to 37-26.
Imes and Shrewsberry helped Notre Dame claw back, making it a one-possession game with 11:30 left. A back-and-forth ensued, with both teams trading runs. The Irish took the lead at 49-48, but Pitt's Siulepa and Indrusaitis combined for a 10-0 run, putting the Panthers back on top.
Despite a late push from Certa, who scored seven straight points, and a clutch three from Frost, Pitt's free throws and a timely dunk kept them ahead. The Irish's last-minute efforts weren't enough, as the Panthers held on for the win.
What's Next for the Irish
Notre Dame heads back to South Bend for their final homestand of the regular season. They face a formidable challenge against a top-3 ranked Duke team on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in a sold-out game on ESPN. Following that, the Irish will host NC State on Feb. 28 and Stanford on March 4.