In a thrilling display of college basketball, Wake Forest continued its winning streak against Pittsburgh with a nail-biting 76-74 victory at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This win marks the Demon Deacons' seventh consecutive success over the Panthers on home turf, reaffirming their dominance in this long-standing rivalry.
Pittsburgh, entering the game with a recent edge over Wake Forest in three of their last four encounters, was keen on ending its losing streak at Joel Coliseum. However, since joining the ACC in the 2013-14 season, a win in this venue has eluded them.
The game began with a modest lead for Pitt, who were up 36-34 at halftime. Damian Dunn set the tone for the second half by sinking a three-pointer, boosting Pitt to a 39-34 lead. But the Demon Deacons swiftly turned the tide with an 11-0 run. This streak was energized by two brilliant three-pointers from Ty-Laur Johnson and an assist leading to another three-pointer by Cameron Hildreth.
As the clock wound down to the final minutes, the competition intensified. Pitt’s Ishmael Leggett tied the game at 65 with flawless free throw shooting. Nonetheless, Wake Forest's Hunter Sallis responded decisively with a pivotal three-pointer. This was quickly followed by a seamless fast-break layup from Hildreth, courtesy of an assist from Johnson, giving Wake a crucial edge in the final minute.
The Deacons' victory was secured when Johnson, calm and focused, netted six consecutive free throws in the last seconds of the match, repelling Pitt's attempts to rally. Johnson concluded the game with an impressive performance from the line, shooting a perfect 8 for 8 and contributing a critical 16 points.
Leading the Wake Forest charge was Cameron Hildreth who posted 24 points, demonstrating impeccable accuracy both from the field and from deep. His shooting prowess was unmatched, as he went 3 for 3 beyond the arc and 7 for 7 from the charity stripe. Complimenting this offensive burst was strong support from Hunter Sallis with 13 points.
Despite the loss, Pittsburgh showed resilience and skill, particularly from Damian Dunn who tallied 24 points, including an impressive three three-pointers. Pitt's effort was further underscored by a flawless 20 for 20 performance from the free-throw line, with contributions from Leggett who added 16 points and Jaland Lowe with 14 points.
Looking ahead, Wake Forest will face Stanford in their next outing, while Pittsburgh is set to play Virginia, both teams seeking to build on their performances thus far.