Amber Aniston • January 27, 2026

Pitt Storms Back, Outlasts Wake Forest 80–76 in Overtime Behind Witherspoon’s Late Heroics

PITTSBURGH — Pitt spent most of Tuesday night chasing Wake Forest, then finished the game owning the biggest moments. Behind clutch late execution from freshman guard Omari Witherspoon and another dominant rebounding performance from Roman Siulepa, the Panthers rallied from a double-digit first-half deficit to defeat Wake Forest 80–76 in overtime at the Petersen Events Center. 


The win snapped Pitt’s three-game losing streak and delivered the Panthers their first ACC home victory of the season, improving them to 9–12 overall and 2–6 in conference play. Wake Forest fell to 11–10 (2–6 ACC), dropping its third straight game in a loss defined by missed late opportunities and costly second-chance breakdowns. 

 


Wake Forest Controls the First Half With Pace and Shot-Making 


Wake Forest controlled the opening stretch with pace and confident shot-making. Nate Calmese started the scoring with a floater as the shot clock expired, and the Demon Deacons built early momentum behind strong ball movement and interior finishes. Calmese drilled an early three as Wake Forest jumped out to a 7–0 lead, and the Deacs continued to press the advantage with clean half-court execution. 


As Wake settled into the game, the lead grew. A strong run pushed the margin to 23–11, and Wake Forest appeared in full control with multiple scorers contributing. Juke Harris attacked downhill for baskets at the rim and added a corner three late in the half, while Sebastian Akins provided scoring off the bench and helped Wake maintain its rhythm. The Demon Deacons entered halftime leading 36–30, with Harris pacing the offense. 


Pitt’s ability to stay within striking distance despite Wake’s strong first half came largely from Siulepa’s activity on the glass. He consistently extended possessions with offensive rebounds and kept the Panthers from falling into a hole too deep to escape. Even as Wake dictated tempo, Pitt’s physicality around the rim provided the foundation for a second-half push. 



Pitt Flips the Game After Halftime and Takes Control Briefly 


That push arrived immediately after the break. Pitt opened the second half with a quick burst, highlighted by a Brandin Cummings three and a dunk that trimmed the deficit to one. The Panthers played with more aggression, increased their pace, and began winning key rebounding sequences that had belonged to Wake earlier. 


With the game tightening, Pitt eventually claimed its largest lead of the night at 55–50 following a Nojus Indrusaitis three-pointer, signaling that the contest had fully flipped into a back-and-forth battle. 



Late Regulation Turns Into a Fight, Setting Up Overtime Drama 


Wake Forest responded with resilience. The Demon Deacons regained control late in regulation, taking a 66–62 lead with just over two minutes remaining. At that moment, Wake appeared poised to escape with a road win, but Pitt answered with urgency. 


Barry Dunning Jr. scored on a driving layup to cut the margin, then Siulepa produced one of the most pivotal sequences of the game, coming up with a steal and finishing with a thunderous dunk to tie it at 66–66 with just over a minute remaining. 


Neither team scored in the final minute of regulation, sending the game to overtime, where the drama escalated immediately. 



Witherspoon Delivers the Winning Shot as Pitt Closes the Door 


Pitt struck first in the extra session, as Siulepa hit a three to give the Panthers a 69–68 edge. The lead changed hands repeatedly, and the final period became a sequence of pressure possessions and timely answers. 


Wake Forest briefly looked like it had seized the win when Myles Colvin buried a three-pointer with just over two minutes left in overtime to put the Demon Deacons ahead 76–74. But Witherspoon responded with the defining moment of the night. After grabbing a defensive rebound and pushing the ball into the frontcourt, the freshman created space near the baseline and drilled a step-back jumper with 15 seconds remaining to give Pitt the lead. 


Wake still had a chance to answer, but Pitt executed the closing sequence with composure. Witherspoon was fouled with 6.7 seconds left and calmly knocked down both free throws to extend the lead to three. Roman Siulepa then picked off the inbounds pass, and Dunning was sent to the line, making one free throw to seal the 80–76 victory. 



Siulepa Powers Pitt’s Comeback With Rebounding and Toughness 


Pitt’s comeback was fueled by its dominance on the glass and its ability to convert Wake’s mistakes into points. The Panthers finished with a 42–37 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive rebounds, which led directly to 20 second-chance points. Pitt also turned Wake Forest’s 13 turnovers into 17 points, swinging the possession battle in a game decided in overtime. 


Siulepa delivered another standout performance, finishing with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, recording his third straight double-double. Dunning added 15 points and nine rebounds, providing consistent interior scoring and finishing strength. Witherspoon scored 13 points to go along with four assists and two blocks, and his late scoring and free throws defined the closing minutes. Cummings also added 13 points, including three three-pointers and a critical overtime make that helped Pitt regain momentum during the final stretch. 


Wake Forest received balanced scoring, with Colvin leading the Demon Deacons with 18 points, fueled largely by his ability to get to the free-throw line. Harris added 17 points, while Calmese and Akins each scored 10. Cooper Schwieger pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds, and freshman Isaac Carr provided meaningful minutes with a career-high nine rebounds, helping Wake compete on the glass despite Pitt’s physicality. 


 

Final Takeaway 


In the end, the difference came down to late execution and extra possessions. Wake Forest played well enough to lead for much of the night, but Pitt’s rebounding, defensive pressure, and clutch shot-making turned the game in the Panthers’ favor when it mattered most. 


With the win, Pitt carries renewed momentum into its next challenge, while Wake Forest returns home searching for answers after another close loss that slipped away late. 

By Angelie Te July 31, 2026
Why Sports Video Production Matters in the World of 2026 Sports video production in 2026 covers far more than pressing record and capturing the final score. It spans live game broadcasts, tournament streaming, vertical social clips, recruiting reels, and sponsor activation content for schools, teams, leagues, and athletics organizations at every level. The job of a modern sports producer is to build year-round storylines, ensure sponsor visibility across every screen, and produce scout-ready assets that athletes and families can use for years. Consider the scale: global sports rights spending exceeded $67 billion in 2026 , and LiveU deployed 1,700 units for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to connect venues across North America. This industry momentum reaches every stage of competition, from youth travel tournaments to college showcases. Sports video production is considered challenging due to unpredictable action and lack of second takes-which is exactly why professional planning matters. The real goal of sports video production isn't just documenting what happened. It's creating content that works long after the final whistle.  East Coast Sports Live helps programs of all sizes compete with pro-level production quality without needing an in-house broadcast team. This article walks you through planning, filming, packaging, and distributing sports content designed to satisfy athletes, fans, and sponsors.
Tony Romo wearing a broadcast headset during a CBS Sports football game broadcast.
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
CBS placed Tony Romo on leave following his Wisconsin arrest, elevating J.J. Watt to its lead NFL broadcast team as the season approaches.
Harrison Bader in Yankees uniform during a game with a focused expression in a stadium.
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
Harrison Bader's season-ending scooter crash has raised questions about MLB contract rules, high-risk activities, and what comes next for the Giants outfielder.
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
Todd Bowles is keeping the Buccaneers focused on football despite Baker Mayfield's contract dispute and Vita Vea's trade request entering training camp.
FOOTBALL
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
FIFA's World Cup investment proposal has sparked opposition from major football confederations, with governance and transparency emerging as the central issues.
football player
By Amber Aniston July 30, 2026
Build a stronger 2026 fantasy football roster by understanding why drafting running backs early can create flexibility and long-term value in half-PPR leagues.
By Amber Aniston July 30, 2026
One of the most significant pieces of legislation in the history of college athletics is facing an uncertain future. The proposed Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) was designed to create a nationwide framework for regulating name, image and likeness (NIL), transfer rules, revenue sharing, and athlete eligibility. However, with the Big Ten and SEC withholding their formal support, lawmakers are running out of time to move the bipartisan bill through Congress before the Senate's August recess. The legislation has been viewed by many athletic directors and conference commissioners as the best opportunity to restore stability to an increasingly fragmented college sports landscape. But ongoing disagreements over several key provisions have placed its future in jeopardy. Why the Protect College Sports Act Matters College athletics has undergone dramatic changes over the past several years. NIL compensation, the transfer portal, athlete revenue sharing, and repeated court rulings have fundamentally altered how schools recruit, retain, and compensate student-athletes. The Protect College Sports Act was introduced to establish consistent national standards rather than leaving schools to navigate a patchwork of state laws and ongoing legal challenges. Among its major goals are: Creating uniform NIL regulations nationwide Standardizing transfer portal rules Establishing revenue-sharing guidelines Providing five years of athlete eligibility Giving conferences greater authority to enforce regulations Offering additional legal protections related to antitrust challenges Supporters believe the legislation could bring much-needed structure to college athletics after years of uncertainty. Why the Big Ten and SEC Have Not Signed Off Despite generally supporting federal legislation, the two most powerful conferences remain unwilling to endorse the current version of the bill. Conference leaders say several important issues remain unresolved, particularly language involving so-called "associated entities." These include corporate sponsors, multimedia rights partners, and outside organizations that could potentially direct additional compensation to athletes outside the proposed revenue-sharing cap. Big Ten and SEC officials argue that unless those loopholes are addressed, schools could effectively bypass spending limits, undermining the legislation's purpose.  Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork summarized the conferences' position simply: "We need a ceiling." Revenue-Sharing Cap Remains the Biggest Obstacle Much of the debate centers on how athlete compensation would be limited. Current negotiations include a structure featuring: $21.3 million base revenue-sharing cap Approximately $20–22.5 million additional retention pool Up to $5 million designated for women's athletics Conference leaders support increasing athlete compensation but insist those figures must be paired with a truly enforceable hard cap. Without stronger safeguards, administrators worry schools could continue funneling money through outside partnerships while technically remaining under the cap. Time Is Becoming the Biggest Challenge Even if negotiators reach an agreement, Congress faces a rapidly approaching deadline. The Senate is scheduled to begin its month-long recess on August 7 , leaving only a narrow window for lawmakers to advance the legislation. Senate staff members have publicly acknowledged that every passing day reduces the likelihood of securing a floor vote before lawmakers leave Washington. Conference representatives and congressional staff have continued negotiating revised language, but formal approval from the Big Ten and SEC has yet to arrive. Lawmakers Say Major Concessions Have Already Been Made Congressional leaders argue they have significantly revised the proposal in response to conference concerns. According to reports included in the source material, lawmakers agreed to numerous requested changes, including: Stronger recruiting and tampering provisions Modified revenue-sharing language Changes involving conference governance Adjustments affecting NIL oversight Additional flexibility regarding institutional NIL agreements Despite those revisions, conference officials maintain they still need to review final legal language before committing their support. Conference Leaders Say They Need More Certainty Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti has repeatedly emphasized that conference officials cannot endorse language they have not fully reviewed. Rather than rejecting the legislation outright, Petitti has described the negotiations as an effort to ensure the final bill accomplishes its intended purpose. Conference officials also continue seeking broader antitrust protections and greater certainty regarding how future enforcement would work under the proposed law. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has similarly stated in recent weeks that congressional legislation remains the preferred outcome but acknowledged the conference has discussed alternative governance models if federal action ultimately fails. Alternative Plans Already Being Discussed If Congress cannot pass the Protect College Sports Act, college athletics may move toward alternative solutions. Among the possibilities currently under discussion are: Plan B Revising the current College Sports Commission structure Negotiating updated revenue-sharing rules among the Power Four conferences Creating stronger conference-led enforcement mechanisms Plan C A self-governance model led by the major conferences Independent enforcement of recruiting, NIL, and compensation rules Greater conference autonomy outside the existing NCAA structure Neither option is considered ideal by conference leaders, who continue describing federal legislation as the preferred long-term solution. Industry Remains Divided Not every stakeholder agrees with the conferences' position. Executives representing multimedia rights companies argue that legitimate endorsement agreements should not automatically count against athlete compensation limits. Others believe an overly restrictive cap could unintentionally reduce genuine commercial opportunities for student-athletes who have built valuable personal brands. That disagreement highlights the broader challenge facing lawmakers: balancing competitive fairness with athletes' growing opportunities to profit from their name, image, and likeness. What's Next? Negotiations between congressional leaders, the White House, and conference representatives remain ongoing. According to the latest reports, lawmakers submitted what has been described as a "best and final" revised version of the legislation to the Big Ten and SEC while asking both conferences to make their decision quickly. Whether that will be enough to secure their support remains unclear. For now, the Protect College Sports Act remains alive—but time is quickly becoming its biggest opponent. If an agreement cannot be reached before Congress begins its August recess, the effort to establish national standards for college athletics could be delayed for months, leaving schools, athletes, conferences, and fans to continue navigating one of the most uncertain periods in the history of collegiate sports.
By Angelie Te July 30, 2026
This article is a practical guide to sports sponsorship activation for brands, schools, athletic programs, and event organizers working around live sports coverage. Whether you run a booster club, manage athletic marketing for a district, or represent a company looking at sponsorship opportunities, the strategies here focus on live and streamed sports events rather than generic sponsorship theory. Target readers: brand marketers, athletic directors, booster clubs, school communications teams, and event organizers planning sponsor integration around streamed or televised games.
More Posts