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Stanford's March Madness Hopes Dashed in 64-63 Thriller
11 Mar
Summary
- Stanford lost 64-63 on a last-second shot by Pitt.
- Rebounding struggles directly contributed to the loss.
- The defeat likely ended Stanford's NCAA tournament bid.
The Stanford Cardinal's strong late-season momentum was halted in a dramatic 64-63 defeat against the Pitt Panthers in the ACC tournament. The loss, which came down to the final seconds, has likely ended Stanford's hopes of reaching the NCAA tournament.
Stanford, a No. 10 seed, faced a determined Pitt team, a 15 seed, in a game where every possession mattered. Despite ending the regular season with four consecutive wins, the Cardinal appeared out of sync early, trailing by eight points at halftime.
In the second half, Stanford mounted a comeback, with players like Ebuka Okorie stepping up. Okorie’s clutch layup with 26 seconds remaining gave Stanford a one-point lead. However, Pitt’s Damarco Minor secured an offensive rebound after a missed shot and scored with just 0.7 seconds left, securing the victory for the Panthers.
Rebounding proved to be Stanford's undoing, as a lack of defensive boards allowed Pitt crucial second-chance points. This defeat marks a disappointing end to what was otherwise a promising season under coach Kyle Smith, leaving Stanford on the cusp of the NCAA tournament for the first time in 13 years.
While the NCAA tournament is now out of reach, Stanford is expected to be a top seed in the NIT, offering a potential final home game at Maples Pavilion. Pitt, meanwhile, advances to face NC State in their quest for a Cinderella run.
