The ACC Tournament kicked off with a bang as the No. 15 seed Pitt Panthers pulled off a thrilling upset over No. 10 Stanford, edging them out 64-63 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Pitt's senior point guard, Demarco Minor, became the hero of the day, following his own miss to score the game-winning layup with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock. Stanford's hopes were dashed when Roman Siulepa swatted away the inbounds pass, leaving them without a chance to shoot.
With this victory, the Panthers improved to 13-19 and will face No. 7 seed NC State tomorrow at noon in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Pitt's success was built on a foundation of physicality and defense, leading to an eight-point advantage at halftime. They dominated the paint, outscoring Stanford 44-32 in that area, and held The Cardinal 13 points below their season scoring average.
The second half was a rollercoaster of lead changes. Pitt took the lead at 62-60 with just over a minute left, thanks to a clutch three-pointer by Barry Dunning Jr. Stanford briefly regained the lead through Ebeka Okorie's three-point play, but Minor's last-second heroics sealed the deal.
Back in February, Stanford defeated Pitt 75-67, but this matchup had a different vibe. Pitt refused to let the game slip away, responding to every Stanford surge with runs of their own, showcasing a resilience that was absent in their previous encounter.
Stanford's star guard, Ebuka Okorie, who had tormented Pitt with 34 points in their last meeting, was held to just 14 points this time. Pitt's defense, particularly Minor's relentless effort, kept Okorie in check, forcing him into a modest 5-of-10 shooting performance with three turnovers.
Despite a tough shooting day, Minor's impact was undeniable. His defensive assignment on Okorie was crucial, and his game-winning basket was the cherry on top of a gritty performance.
Stanford, eyeing an NCAA Tournament berth, now faces an uncertain future. With a 20-12 record, their hopes may hinge on an NIT invitation.
Pitt's dominance on the boards was a game-changer. They grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 25 second-chance points, and out-rebounded Stanford 41-28 overall. Their physical play in the paint accounted for 44 of their 64 points, showcasing their ability to outmuscle The Cardinal.
Balanced scoring was key for Pitt, with four players hitting double figures. Barry Dunning Jr. led with 16 points, while Siulepa added 14 points and seven rebounds. Cam Corhen contributed 12 points before fouling out, and Omari Witherspoon chipped in 11 points, marking his first double-digit performance since January.
In a game of adjustments, Nojus Indrusaitis's limited minutes due to a knee knock opened the door for freshman Macari Moore, who made the most of his opportunity with two points, five rebounds, and an assist.
Looking ahead, Pitt faces a quick turnaround against NC State, the No. 7 seed. The Wolfpack, with a 19-12 record, have struggled recently, losing six of their last seven games. Their previous matchup saw NC State triumph 81-72, but Pitt will be eager to flip the script in this high-stakes rematch.