In its first conference game since Dec. 10, the No. 25 North Carolina men’s basketball team (9-5, 1-2 ACC) was upset by Pittsburgh (10-4, 3-0 ACC) by a score of 76-74.
What happened?
UNC’s four-game win streak featured a greater reliance on senior center Armando Bacot. This trend continued on Friday, with Bacot’s teammates looking for him on early post-ups and the preseason National Player of the Year bullied his matchup and cleaned the glass.
Bacot’s first half ended with 10 points and nine rebounds, including five offensive rebounds. Combined with a three-point barrage — UNC shot 6-13 from deep in the first half — the Tar Heels controlled the game early, starting the game with an 11-0 run and leading 26-17 midway through the first half.
Pitt bit back with a spaced-out, pick-and-roll offense that allowed its players to attack UNC’s perimeter defenders one-on-one. Panther guard Jamarius Burton benefitted most with 15 first-half points on 7-9 shooting. Pitt tied the game at 30 before UNC took the lead again and ended the half up 40-34.
UNC continued to create open 3-point shots whenever Pitt sent a double team to Bacot in the post. But the shots wouldn’t fall, and the Tar Heels went 1-9 from three in the second half.
Pitt continued its relentless one-on-one attack to stay in the game, and soon, the Panthers broke through. Guard Nike Sibande sparked the momentum shift with a drive and finish over junior guard Caleb Love to make it 57-53. Another Sibande drive collapsed the UNC defense, creating an open 3-pointer for Nelly Cummings to make it 57-56.
Two straight Bacot post scores could not stop Pitt’s momentum. Burton drove on first-year D’Marco Dunn, baited a contest from Dunn on the shot fake, drew the foul and scored to tie the game at 62.
Burton converted the and-one to give Pitt their first lead since the first minute of the first half.
