Clemson hangs on for OT win over Pitt

Chauncey Wiggins knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:28 remaining in overtime and the Clemson Tigers held on from there in a 78-75 victory over the host Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday.

Wiggins’ shot broke a 68-68 tie and was part of a 7-0 run for the Tigers (15-4, 7-1 ACC), who were led by Chase Hunter’s 20-point performance. Hunter knocked down five 3-pointers.

Jaeden Zackery scored 16 and Ian Schieffelin added 15 for the Tigers, who have won back-to-back road games. Dillon Hunter chipped in 10.

The Panthers (12-6, 3-4) trailed by as many as 14 and forced OT but couldn’t avoid their fourth consecutive loss. Ishmael Leggett scored 18 to lead the way and Jaland Lowe scored 15. Guillermo Diaz Graham and Zack Austin added 10 apiece.

Schieffelin opened the second half with a wide-open 3-pointer near the Clemson bench for a 43-30 lead.

The Panthers tied the game at 57-57 with 8:35 left on a 3-pointer by Damian Dunn and took the lead when Leggett hit a 3-pointer for a 62-61 edge with 5:43 left.

The Tigers led 53-39 with 14:31 to play after Schieffelin made a jumper and a free throw. But the Panthers refused to fold and took the lead when Leggett hit a 3-pointer for a 62-61 edge with 5:43 left.

The game was tied at 64-64 with 2:09 left after a free throw by Zackery.

Zackery gave Clemson a 66-64 lead with 33 seconds left as he hit a jumper, but Lowe answered with a layup with 19 seconds to go to force overtime.

There was no slowing down Hunter or the Tigers during the first half as Clemson went into halftime with a 40-30 advantage.

Hunter went 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, accounting for nearly half of Clemson’s 10 made 3-pointers in the first half.

Clemson closed the half shooting 8-of-10 from the field while the Panthers struggled, connecting only three times on 10 attempts, with Cameron Corhen knocking down a jumper as time expired.