Pitt’s Second-Half Surge Falls Short as Texas A&M Closes Strong in ACC/SEC Challenge
PITTSBURGH - For a moment, it looked like Pitt was about to flip the script.
Down double digits in the second half, the Panthers stormed back with a 16-0 run that had the Petersen Events Center rocking and gave Pitt its first real momentum of the night. But just as quickly as they seized control, they gave it right back. Texas A&M responded with a closing punch of its own, outscoring Pitt 24-8 in the final minutes to hand the Panthers an 81-73 loss in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Pitt drops to 5-4 on the season, with this marking their fourth loss in six games. It’s a stretch that includes defeats to West Virginia, UCF, and a surprising stumble at home against Quinnipiac. Meanwhile, Texas A&M continues to roll, improving to 7-2 with their fifth straight win - a streak that also features a dominant 95-59 showing against Florida State in Tampa.
Early Struggles, Then a Spark
The Aggies came out fast and physical, jumping to a 10-1 lead before Pitt could find its footing. Texas A&M’s offense was balanced early, with six different players contributing to a 14-5 advantage just six minutes in. The Panthers, meanwhile, opened the game ice cold - 2-for-8 from the field and 0-for-4 from beyond the arc.
But Pitt didn’t stay quiet for long. A quick 8-0 run - sparked by threes from Nojus Indrusaitis and Omari Witherspoon, plus a Barry Dunning Jr. layup - pulled them within one.
From there, it was a tug-of-war the rest of the half. Every time A&M tried to stretch the lead, Pitt had an answer.
At the break, the Panthers trailed just 35-33.
Dunning was the tone-setter in the first half, scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He showed off his versatility with a mix of finishes - a highlight-reel alley-oop, a putback off the glass, and a powerful dunk. Witherspoon and Indrusaitis chipped in seven apiece, while Damarco Minor added two big threes off the bench.
Texas A&M leaned on Rashaun Agee early, who led all scorers at the break with 11 points. His inside presence and ability to draw contact gave Pitt problems from the jump.
Momentum Swings and Missed Opportunities
Pitt opened the second half with a burst - a dunk from freshman Roman Siulepa and a mid-range jumper from Dunning gave them their first lead of the night. But just as quickly as they grabbed it, Texas A&M snatched it back. The Aggies ripped off a 12-2 run, fueled by a pair of Rubén Dominguez threes and more strong inside work from Agee and Jacari Lane.
With the Aggies up 57-45 and under 12 minutes to play, Pitt looked like it might be headed for another frustrating home loss. But then came the spark.
After a physical rebound battle, Mgbako shoved Indrusaitis and was hit with a technical. Minor calmly sank both free throws, and the Panthers used that moment to ignite a furious rally.
Dunning scored inside, Guillermo Díaz Corhen added a hook shot, and Indrusaitis followed with a driving layup. Then Minor drilled a step-back three that brought the house down and cut the deficit to one.
Out of the media timeout, Corhen sank two free throws to give Pitt the lead, and Indrusaitis buried another three to cap a 16-0 run. Suddenly, Pitt was up 61-57, and the energy in the building was electric.
But the celebration was short-lived.
Aggies Close the Door
Texas A&M, to their credit, didn’t panic. They tightened up defensively, got back to attacking the rim, and started winning the battle at the free-throw line. Over the next several minutes, the Aggies went on a 9-4 run to retake the lead, then followed it with a crushing 9-0 burst that put the game out of reach.
Dominguez hit his fourth three of the night, Lane and Rylen Griffen got to the rim and the line, and Agee buried a dagger three to finish it off. Pitt tried to hang on with late threes from Indrusaitis and Minor, but the damage was done.
Texas A&M’s poise in the final stretch was the difference. They shot 20-for-22 from the free-throw line on the night - a massive advantage over Pitt’s 7-of-11. That efficiency from the stripe, combined with timely shot-making, helped them withstand Pitt’s best punch.
Standouts and Stats That Mattered
- Rashaun Agee led all scorers with 21 points, going 7-for-14 from the field and adding key free throws and a late three.
- Rubén Dominguez was lethal from deep, hitting four threes on his way to 18 points.
- Jacari Lane added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and was perfect from the line.
- Barry Dunning Jr. had a strong night for Pitt, finishing with 18 points (9-for-14 FG) and 12 rebounds - his first double-double of the season.
- Nojus Indrusaitis provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, including a pair of threes and some fearless drives.
- Guillermo Díaz Corhen was efficient inside, scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
- Damarco Minor added 14 points, hitting four of Pitt’s eight total threes.
Bigger Picture for Pitt
This one stings for Pitt, not just because of the loss, but because of how close they came to a signature win. That 16-0 second-half run showed what this team is capable of when it’s locked in - aggressive defense, confident shooting, and energy on the glass. But the inability to close out games, especially at home, is becoming a troubling trend.
Pitt is now 0-2 in the ACC/SEC Challenge, following last year’s loss to Missouri and a blowout defeat at Mississippi State in 2024. The Panthers have shown flashes, but consistency - particularly on defense and at the free-throw line - continues to be a work in progress.
There’s talent on this roster, and the pieces are starting to come together. But if Pitt wants to turn the corner, they’ll need to find a way to turn these near-misses into statement wins.