Pitt Falls to Boston College in Another Missed Opportunity: Late-Game Miscues, Missed Free Throws Prove Costly
Brandin Cummings had two clean looks at a game-tying three in the final seconds. Neither found the rim. And with that, Pitt’s comeback bid came up short in a 65-62 road loss to Boston College on Wednesday night - a game that felt like it slipped away more than it was taken.
The Panthers, now 8-11 on the season and 1-5 in ACC play, showed flashes of resilience after a rough first half. They outscored the Eagles 40-37 after the break and twice built six-point leads in the second half. But when it mattered most, the execution fell apart - from the free-throw line, at the rim, and in the timeout column.
Let’s break it down.
A Tale of Two Halves
Pitt’s first half was, by all accounts, hard to watch. The Panthers shot just 23% from the field, including a brutal 4-of-13 on layups.
Even with Boston College struggling to generate offense themselves, Pitt couldn’t capitalize. The Panthers managed just seven made field goals in the opening 20 minutes and trailed by six at the break.
But as has been the case throughout the season, Pitt found a spark coming out of halftime. The offense, which had been stuck in neutral, suddenly clicked.
They ripped off a 7-0 run early in the second half and started to control the boards, out-rebounding BC 19-12 after the break. The shots started falling - Pitt hit 51% from the field in the second half and knocked down five threes.
It was the kind of response you want to see from a team coming off a 41-point loss to Louisville.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.
Missed Chances, Missed Free Throws
Pitt had every opportunity to close this one out. But the final stretch was defined by missed layups, missed free throws, and missed chances.
The Panthers missed their final five free throws of the game and finished just 7-of-17 from the line. That’s ten points left on the table in a game decided by three. Add in the blown layups - especially in the first half - and it’s not hard to see where this one got away.
It wasn’t just the players, either. With Pitt trailing by three in the final seconds, Roman Siulepa made a highlight-reel steal to give the Panthers a shot at tying the game.
They had a timeout. Jeff Capel didn’t use it.
Cummings was left to improvise with no good options and time running out. The result?
Two contested threes that didn’t touch the rim.
Timeouts are always a judgment call, but when the offense is scrambling and the clock is ticking, sometimes calling one gives your team a shot at a clean look. Pitt didn’t get one.
Bright Spots Amid the Frustration
Despite the loss, there were a few encouraging signs. Five Panthers scored in double figures, and both Cameron Corhen and Roman Siulepa posted double-doubles. Corhen finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Siulepa added 13 points and 11 boards - plus that clutch late-game steal.
Freshman Macarri Moore also made the most of an expanded role, logging a season-high 17 minutes. He chipped in five points and four assists, providing a bit of a spark off the bench in a game where Pitt needed it.
But the Panthers were shorthanded after senior point guard Demarco Minor was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul in the first half. The play, which came on a Boston College fast break, was dangerous - the kind of hit that would’ve drawn a penalty in football - and left Pitt scrambling to adjust without their veteran floor general.
Where Things Stand
This was a game Pitt had to have. Boston College entered the night as the lowest-scoring team in the ACC.
Pitt was just one spot ahead of them. Neither team came in with much momentum, and both have racked up some head-scratching losses to mid-majors this season.
But for Pitt, this one stings a little more.
The Panthers now sit tied for last in the ACC, and with only 15 of the league’s 18 teams making the conference tournament, that’s a dangerous place to be. The road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Between January 31 and February 14, Pitt faces a gauntlet: road games at Clemson, Virginia, and North Carolina, plus home matchups with Duke and a 14-5 SMU squad.
There’s still time to regroup, but the margin for error is gone. Games like this - winnable ones - are the ones that come back to haunt you.
What’s Next
Pitt returns home on Saturday to face NC State at the Petersen Events Center. The Wolfpack are 13-6 and just pulled off an overtime win over No.
18 Clemson. Tip-off is set for noon.
For the Panthers, it’s another chance to right the ship. But they’ll need to clean up the little things - the free throws, the layups, the late-game decisions - if they want to turn this season around.