Game Summary
In a thrilling game on Tuesday night, Pittsburgh edged out Wake Forest 80-76 in overtime, snapping their painful three-game losing streak. The victory was marked by key performances from Barry Dunning Jr. and Roman Siulepa, who each contributed 15 points. The decisive moment came when Omari Witherspoon hit a crucial step-back jumper with only 15 seconds remaining in the extra period.
Key Moments
The action heated up in regulation when Siulepa executed a smart steal on an inbounds pass and surged down the court to deliver a fast-break dunk, leveling the score at 66 with just over a minute to play. Wake Forest’s Juke Harris, who had already scored 17 points for the night, attempted a layup to clinch the game as the buzzer sounded, but missed amid tight defense.
Overtime Highlights
As overtime unfolded, Witherspoon capitalized on a steal and was fouled, resulting in a Flagrant 1 after a review, granting him two free throws. He made one of the shots, narrowing the gap to 76-75, but misfired on a three-pointer shortly after. During the last two minutes of the contest, Wake Forest struggled offensively, failing to score.
Player Performances
Besides his scoring, Siulepa also recorded 15 rebounds, marking his third consecutive game with a double-double. For Wake Forest, Cooper Schwieger provided support with 11 boards and seven points. Myles Colvin led all scorers for Wake Forest with 18 points, while Harris’ contributions included a substantial eight points during an early 14-1 run that helped his team establish a 23-11 advantage. At halftime, the Demon Deacons were ahead 36-30, bolstered by 11 points from Harris and 10 from Nate Calmese, who had to leave the game with an ankle injury in the first half and did not return.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Pittsburgh (9-12, 2-6 ACC) will face off against No. 22 Clemson on the road this Saturday, while Wake Forest (11-10, 2-6 ACC) will return home for a matchup with N.C. State.
