Pitt’s Zack Austin Sinks Buckeyes With Overtime Buzzer-Beater, 91-90

In Ohio State’s first extra time sport of the season, a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Pitt ahead Zack Austin lofted the Panthers (7-1) over Ohio State (5-2), 91-90, in extra time.

Ohio State led for almost all of the sport and practically all of extra time, however blew a 12-point lead within the second half earlier than permitting Pitt to attain six of the final seven factors of the additional interval.

Guard Jaland Lowe led the best way for Pitt, racking up 28 factors for a game-high. Fellow guard Ishmael Leggett added 21 factors whereas Austin picked up 16.

Bruce Thornton collected 24 factors and 9 assists within the loss, each team-highs. Devin Royal and Micah Parrish adopted with 18 and 15 factors, respectively.

First Half

It took practically eight minutes for both group to take a two-score lead within the Schottenstein Center.

Meechie Johnson Jr. collected eight factors in that point, together with two well-contested 3-pointers, one from the suitable nook and one from the left wing. The second of these triples made it 19-13 Ohio State with 12:07 to play within the first half.

Pitt had a transparent dimension benefit from the opening tip, particularly because the Buckeyes have been compelled to begin a small-ball lineup with out common beginning middle Aaron Bradshaw, who stays out amid a college investigation. Sean Stewart opened the sport at middle however picked up two fouls and took a seat on the bench simply 6:30 into the sport.

Austin Parks got here in at middle and made a little bit of noise. He hit a clear reverse layup off an up-and-under then slammed house a feed from John Mobley Jr. after the sharpshooting freshman drew a fringe double group. Mobley confirmed why he deserved that double-team on Ohio State’s subsequent possession by canning a 3-pointer together with his toes planted contained in the Buckeyes’ half-court brand.

Thornton hit a mid-range jumper to cap a 7-0 run and Ohio State led 28-18. Royal collected six factors and Mobley hit a left-corner 3 to assist maintain the lead for some time earlier than a pair of Leggett layups minimize the sting to 6. A Thornton three from the highest of the important thing helped the Buckeyes carry a 48-39 benefit into halftime.

Bradshaw’s absence and Stewart’s foul hassle compelled the Buckeyes to decide for lots of three-guard lineups within the first half however it proved helpful to their passing and taking pictures. Ohio State went 6-of-9 from 3-point vary and picked up 12 assists on 20 made photographs.

Second Half

Stewart opened the second half with a 3-point play and mixed with Thornton to get an enormous pop from a decently crowded area on an alley-oop flush. Ohio State led 57-46. Then the Buckeyes got here crashing again to earth.

Turnovers mounted because the Buckeyes tried and failed on a number of extra alley-oop makes an attempt. Ohio State missed 5 straight subject objectives and went greater than seven minutes with out scoring, giving the ball away six occasions in that span.

Meanwhile, Pitt’s offense saved buzzing, particularly Leggett, who rapidly made a pair of 3-point performs each the old style means and with a shot from past the arc. The latter play gave the Panthers their first lead since they have been up 9-7 within the first half, and the run saved going with a 3-point play from ahead Amadou Kante. Another layup from Leggett capped the scoring streak at 15-0 and Pitt led 61-57 with 10:53 remaining.

Parrish introduced the group again into issues with a four-point play as he was fouled by Leggett on the high of the important thing as he splashed a 3-pointer. Mahaffey slammed again a miss to offer the Buckeyes the lead again. Zack Austin hit a triple for the Panthers, however Thornton responded with a 3 of his personal to make it a 67-66 Buckeye edge with 5:28 to play.

Up 68-67, Parrish drained a nasty step-back 3-pointer from the suitable wing. Royal prolonged the result in 73-68 on a pair of free throws. Pitt minimize it to 73-72 however Parrish was prepared with one other triple. 

But Austin splashed a catch-and-shoot trey of his personal earlier than Lowe equalized the competition 77-77 with 33 seconds left. Thornton missed a possible game-winner and the 2 squads went to extra time.

Overtime

Thornton opened extra time with a bang, pulling up for a fast triple whereas operating full velocity to his left. Two free throws from Royal gave Ohio State an early two-score lead within the additional interval, 82-78.

Kante fouled out for the Panthers and Thornton sank two extra on the charity stripe to set the margin at 84-80. Then Leggett fouled out and Thornton hit two extra. But Lowe saved Pitt round. He scored eight consecutive factors for the Panthers to make it a one-point sport, 89-88. After Royal made only one free throw on Ohio State’s subsequent possession, Austin hit a 3 with Parrish’s hand in his face to win the sport for Pitt.

What’s Next?

Ohio State performs its first Big Ten sport of the 2024-25 season when it travels to College Park to face Maryland on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.

Game Notes

• Ohio State’s loss was the primary extra time sport of the Jake Diebler period.
• Friday marked the twenty sixth all-time assembly between Pitt and Ohio State in males’s basketball, with Pitt now main the collection 16-10.
• Freshman ahead Colin White was out with an damage in opposition to the Panthers and was seen carrying a strolling boot.
• Royal obtained dinged up a number of occasions, as soon as arising favoring his ankle and one other time his hamstring, however re-entered the competition on each events.