PITTSBURGH _ Senior stars Mike Young and Jamel Artis each had 25 points, but a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining from No. 24 Notre Dame's Steve Vasturia handed Pitt a 78-77 overtime loss Saturday at the Petersen Events Center in the first game of a grueling ACC schedule.
The Panthers (11-3, 0-1 ACC) shot just 37.5 percent as a team. Cam Johnson added 14 points while Sheldon Jeter brought down a team-high 13 rebounds. Aside from Artis and Young, who went a combined 19-of-41, Pitt shot just 25.8 percent from the field. Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame's scoring and rebounding leader, had 21 points and 14 rebounds, his eighth double-double of the season.
Pitt's overall shooting woes weren't present early, as it got six of its first eight made shots from 3-point range _ and made six of its first 10 3s _ to build a 22-11 lead on the Irish (12-2, 1-0 ACC).
That advantage would only last so long. Notre Dame, utilizing the kind of ball movement that has made it a consistent contender under coach Mike Brey, got within two by halftime and _ after trailing, 49-44, in the second half _ went on a 16-3 run to take a 60-52 lead with 7:40 remaining.
Spurred by Young and Artis, the Panthers (11-3, 0-1) fought back with an offensive flurry, building a 67-62 lead with 3:07 left to help set up a tight finish. With his team down, 68-66, Vasturia was fouled by Sheldon Jeter on a drive to the basket with 25.2 seconds remaining and made both free throws to tie the game. After a game-winning corner 3 from Chris Jones as blocked with 1.9 seconds remaining, Young missed a 3 off the front rim as time expired to send the game to overtime.
With scoring contributions from three different players, Pitt scored seven of the first nine points of the extra session. The Irish, as it had done late in the second half, had a resounding answer, getting a two-pointer from Colson as the shot clock expired and a 3 from Vasturia on consecutive possessions.
After Artis made a runner to give a Pitt a two-point lead in the final minute, Vasturia was short on a floater, but Notre Dame collected the offensive rebound. Vasturia, given a chance to make up for his earlier miss, caught the ball in the corner, got away from an incoming Cam Johnson with a pump fake and calmly drained a 3 with 2.5 seconds left to give his team a one-point lead and, ultimately, the win.
Pitt returns to action Wednesday with a game against No. 12 Virginia at the Petersen Events Center.
