Clutch free throws down the stretch lift Pitt over UNC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Pittsburgh guard Jamarious Burton hit two clutch free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining to help the Panthers down the UNC Tar Heels 65-64 on Wednesday evening in the Dean Smith Center.

UNC (15-7, 7-4 ACC) returned to action after a seven-day break. Pitt has won their last two matchups against UNC at Dean Smith Center. UNC has a younger matchup than Pitt.

RECAP

With the win, Pitt moved to 9-3 against UNC in Chapel Hill.

In the first minutes of the game, both teams endured tough shooting slumps. Blake Hinson finally put the first points on board for Pitt. Pete  Nance went 2 of 2 from beyond the arc to put UNC in double-digits. Soon after, Tar Heels guard Caleb Love began to heat up after hitting his first three of the game.

Towards the middle of the first half, the Panthers could not keep UNC forward Armando Bacot off the free throw line. Bacot, who leads the ACC with 61 double-doubles, was dominant down low all-night long which in turn got him free throw opportunities. Pittsburgh had three fouls early and ended the half with 10 compared to UNC’s seven.

The Panthers opened the second half with their smaller liner though that did not lessen the physicality of the game.

In the second half, the refs called a double tech on Nelly Cummings and RJ Davis after the referees noticed that the matchup between the guards began to get heated. Chapel Hill’s next two offensive possessions resulted in back-to-back fouls on Pitt’s Diaz and Cummings. Both getting into foul trouble proved to be game-changers.

UNC’s momentum took them on a 13-2 run in just five minutes. Pitt would respond to that five minute scoring drought by scoring five consecutive baskets to extend their lead to five.

With 10 minutes left, Pitt went on their own 13-2 run, causing UNC head coach Hubert Davis to call a timeout. To close the lead on the ensuing possession, Caleb Love shook his defender for a three which tied the game at 61 with 3:30 left. In the last minutes of the game, Panther’s leading guard Cummings fouled out with 1:47 left. Davis went 1 for 2 on free throws giving the Tar Heels a 63-62 lead.

Despite the back and forth, the Panthers still had a chance to win the game with 23.7 seconds remaining. Jamarious Burton forced Davis to foul him and send him to the line with 3.4 seconds remaining. Burton hit both free throws to take a 65-64 lead.

UNC would get a final look with Caleb Love curling on the three-point line for a quick catch and shoot that was blocked to clinch the road win for the Panthers.

Coach Hubert Davis said after the game, “They were the better defensive team because his guys could apply pressure on the perimeter. We have to be better.”

UNC guard Caleb Love led the Tar Heels in scoring with 22 points while Nelly Cummings recorded 21 points, leading Pitt to the victor.

The Tar Heels will look to bounce back this weekend as they travel to Durham on Saturday for a matchup with rival Duke at 6:30 PM on ESPN.

*Feature image is courtesy of University of Pittsburgh Athletics*