Clemson defeats Pitt 68-73
Clemson Edges Pitt in Thrilling 73-68 Victory at Petersen Events Center
In a back-and-forth affair, Clemson (12-5) emerged victorious over Pittsburgh (10-6), 73-68, on Monday night at the sold-out Petersen Events Center. The Tigers' thrilling comeback from a one-point deficit at halftime set the tone for an entertaining evening of hoops.
The game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm early on. Pitt took an early lead and maintained it through the first half, but Clemson refused to back down. Trailing by as many as four points in the third quarter, the Tigers' Jestin Porter (21 points) sparked a crucial 7-0 run that put his team up for good.
Porter's hot shooting was complemented by Dillon Hunter's (4 assists, 4 points), who provided clutch playmaking and rebounding down the stretch. Carter Welling (10 rebounds, 8 points) also played a key role in the Tigers' victory, controlling the paint and limiting Pitt's scoring opportunities.
Damarco Minor (17 points, 3-6 3PT, 50% FG) led Pittsburgh with an impressive effort, but it wasn't enough to overcome Clemson's consistent shooting. Roman Siulepa (7 rebounds, 12 points, 1 ast, 1 stl) also had a strong all-around performance for Pitt.
The game was marked by several key possessions that swung the momentum in favor of each team. In the first half, Pittsburgh's Omari Witherspoon (14 points, 3 reb) sank three consecutive three-pointers to push his team ahead. Later, Clemson's Porter responded with a trio of baskets, including two from beyond the arc, to cut the deficit to one point at halftime.
The second half was more closely contested, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away comfortably. However, in the end, it was Clemson's superior shooting that proved decisive. The Tigers shot 61.1% from the field, including 33.0% from three-point range, to outscore Pitt by a margin of 5 points.
The victory marked Clemson's second straight win over Pittsburgh and improved their conference record to 3-2. For Pitt, it was a tough road loss at home that drops them to 2-3 in the ACC.