Nojus Indrusaitis was credited with the go-ahead layup with 4.3 seconds remaining as visiting Pitt nipped Syracuse 71-69 on Saturday to earn a spot in next week’s ACC tournament.
With the game tied at 69-69 and the seconds winding down in overtime, Indusaitis’ layup attempt hit off the backboard slightly before William Kyle III blocked it. Syracuse could only muster Naithan George’s half-court heave, which misfired at the buzzer.
Pitt (12-19, 5-13 ACC) will be the 15th seed in Charlotte next week. The Panthers needed to win to qualify for the conference tournament. Meanwhile, Syracuse (15-16, 6-12), which ended the regular season with five straight losses, will be the 14th seed.
Cameron Corhen paced the Panthers with 21 points, while Barry Dunning Jr. chipped in with 17 points and Indrusaitis had 16. George led the Orange with 26 points, and Donnie Freeman notched 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Fueled by a 12-0 run early in the second half, Pitt led 49-37 on Indrusaitis’ layup with 11:01 remaining.
However, Syracuse battled back as George hit a pair of 3-pointers and Freeman converted two buckets during a 10-0 push by the hosts. Tyler Betsey’s 3-pointer with 6:04 left brought the Orange even at 52-52.
Down the stretch, the teams were tied several more times — at 55, 57, 59, 61 and 65. Both teams missed a 3-pointer in the final 20 seconds, sending the game to overtime.
Both teams scored on their first possession of overtime. Shortly thereafter, Damarco Minor made a jumper for Pitt before Freeman countered with a bucket to forge a 69-69 deadlock, setting up the exciting finish.
Pitt led 11-4 early on, but Syracuse eventually caught up at 24-24 with 4:43 left in the first half. The Orange did not take their first lead until George knocked down a 3-pointer to send the hosts into the locker room with a 31-28 advantage.
