PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and squandered opportunities, the Pittsburgh Panthers escaped with a dramatic 67-66 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday night at a raucous Petersen Events Center.

The contest was decided in the final second, as Pittsburgh’s Damarco Minor sank a 3-pointer with one second remaining on the clock to complete a comeback and stun the visiting Buckeyes. The shot capped a wild final sequence that saw Ohio State take a one-point lead with just three seconds left, only for Minor to deliver the final, crushing blow.

The game was a tale of two halves and a study in contrasting styles. Pittsburgh, leveraging its disruptive defense, built a 34-24 lead by halftime. The Panthers forced Ohio State into 12 turnovers for the game, converting those miscues into 17 points, while the Buckeyes managed just five points off only five Pittsburgh turnovers. The Panthers also dominated in transition, outscoring Ohio State 11-2 on fastbreak opportunities.

Despite the halftime deficit and the Panthers’ defensive intensity, Ohio State mounted a fierce second-half rally. The Buckeyes exploded for 42 points after the intermission, erasing the 10-point gap and setting the stage for the frantic finish. Their offense ran primarily through Devin Royal, who led all scorers with 22 points. Bruce Thornton provided crucial support, adding 18 points for the Buckeyes.

However, Ohio State’s offensive execution was often hampered by Pittsburgh’s relentless defense. The Buckeyes managed only three assists against their 12 turnovers, a stark indicator of the Panthers’ ability to disrupt offensive flow. Pittsburgh, by contrast, dished out nine assists and recorded nine steals, with Minor and Omari Witherspoon each registering two thefts.

While Pittsburgh’s shooting was not efficient—the team finished 26 of 69 from the floor and 5 of 22 from beyond the arc—they compensated with superior effort on the glass. The Panthers grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second-chance points and extending possessions that often resulted in critical baskets.

Minor’s game-winner was the culmination of a standout performance, as he finished with 18 points. He was joined by Barry Dunning and Cameron Corhen, who also scored 18 points apiece. Dunning’s all-around effort was pivotal, while Corhen’s presence inside helped Pittsburgh to a 38-30 advantage in points in the paint.

For Ohio State, the loss was particularly painful given their efficiency from the free-throw line, where they shot 13 for 15, and their ability to protect the ball better in the second half. Christoph Tilly contributed 10 points for the Buckeyes, but the team’s overall offensive rating of 99.8 on 66 possessions paled in comparison to what was needed to secure the road victory.

The defeat drops Ohio State to 6-1 on the season, snapping a six-game winning streak that included decisive victories over Mount Saint Mary’s and Western Michigan. The Buckeyes will look to regroup before their next contest at Northwestern on Dec. 6.

Pittsburgh, which improved to 5-3, secured a significant non-conference win after recent setbacks against Quinnipiac and UCF. The Panthers will host Texas A&M on Tuesday as they continue their season.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 6,299, defied pregame expectations. Ohio State entered as a 5.5-point favorite and was given a 60.8 percent probability to win by Interstat’s ELO system. The combined score of 133 also fell well below the over/under line of 145.5, underscoring the defensive struggle that characterized much of the evening, even as it ended in a sudden, offensive explosion.