Pittsburgh Panthers Edge Notre Dame Fighting Irish 73-68
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Petersen Events Center
Pittsburgh Panthers 73, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 68, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Pittsburgh Panthers?
Pittsburgh Panthers beat Notre Dame Fighting Irish 73-68 at Petersen Events Center on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Pittsburgh Panthers?
Pittsburgh Panthers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -155 (about 61% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Pittsburgh Panthers triumphed over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a final score of 73-68. This victory marked a significant moment for the Panthers, who had been struggling with a recent five-game losing streak before this win. The game took place at the Petersen Events Center, where the Panthers aimed to improve their home record of 10-17 against an away team that had a record of 12-15.
The Panthers entered the game with a recent form of 2-8 over their last ten games, averaging 64.7 points scored while allowing 75.3 points per game. Their last five games had been particularly challenging, with an average of just 57.0 points scored and 73.0 points allowed. Conversely, the Fighting Irish had also faced difficulties, holding a similar record of 2-8 in their last ten games but averaging 76.5 points scored and allowing 83.2 points per game. Despite their struggles, Notre Dame had managed to secure a win against Georgia Tech in their last outing, snapping a losing streak.
In terms of home and away performance, the Panthers had a home record of 1-4 in their last five games, while the Fighting Irish had not won in their last five away games, going 0-5. Historically, this matchup has not favored Pittsburgh, as they had lost their previous two meetings against Notre Dame in the 2025 season, including a narrow 54-55 defeat on March 11, 2025.
The betting odds from DraftKings indicated that Pittsburgh was favored by 3.5 points, with a total set at 140.5. The home moneyline was listed at -155.0, while the away moneyline for Notre Dame was at 130.0, reflecting the competitive nature of the game.
As for the conditions during the game, both teams faced the challenge of maintaining composure and executing their plays effectively. The Panthers' recent struggles meant they needed to capitalize on every opportunity, while the Fighting Irish sought to build on their recent victory.
Key moments in the game included several scoring plays that highlighted the intensity of the matchup. Notably, Roman Siulepa made a crucial two-foot dunk with an assist from Nojus Indrusaitis, bringing the score to 69-60 in favor of Pittsburgh in the second half. Cole Certa responded for Notre Dame with a 30-foot three-point jumper, narrowing the gap to 69-63. Certa continued to be a pivotal player, contributing with a layup and a free throw, but the Panthers maintained their lead through effective free-throw shooting from Damarco Minor, who made both attempts in the closing moments of the game.
Ultimately, the Panthers' ability to execute in critical situations and their strong defensive efforts allowed them to secure the victory. This win not only ended their losing streak but also provided a much-needed boost in confidence as they look to build on this performance moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | PITT -3.5 | 140.5 o -105 / u -115 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish +130 · Pittsburgh Panthers -155 |
Leaders
- PointsRoman Siulepa22Pittsburgh Panthers
- AssistsOmari Witherspoon5Pittsburgh Panthers
- ReboundsCameron Corhen8Pittsburgh Panthers
- PointsCole Certa16Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- AssistsCarson Towt4Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- ReboundsCarson Towt13Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Recent form
Pittsburgh Panthers
Last 10: 2-8Streak L564.7 scored · 75.3 allowed per game1-4 at home
- L65-79at North Carolina Tar HeelsFeb 14
- L54-70vs Duke Blue DevilsFeb 11
- L67-86vs SMU MustangsFeb 7
- L47-67at Virginia CavaliersFeb 4
- L52-63at Clemson TigersJan 31
- W80-76vs Wake Forest Demon DeaconsJan 27
- L72-81vs NC State WolfpackJan 24
- L62-65at Boston College EaglesJan 22
- L59-100vs Louisville CardinalsJan 18
- W89-66at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsJan 15
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last 10: 2-8Streak W176.5 scored · 83.2 allowed per game0-5 away
- W89-74vs Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsFeb 14
- L81-89at SMU MustangsFeb 11
- L79-82vs Florida State SeminolesFeb 7
- L65-76at Louisville CardinalsFeb 5
- L72-86at Syracuse OrangeJan 31
- L97-100vs Virginia CavaliersJan 28
- W68-64vs Boston College EaglesJan 24
- L69-91at North Carolina Tar HeelsJan 22
- L76-89at Virginia Tech HokiesJan 17
- L69-81vs Miami HurricanesJan 14
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Pittsburgh Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-65 | 22-49 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 9-38 | 11-24 |
| Three-point % | 24 | 46 |
| Free throws | 7-14 | 18-27 |
| Free throw % | 50 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 16 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 26 |
| Assists | 14 | 16 |
| Steals | 7 | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 6 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 1 | 23 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 20 |
| Fouls | 19 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 11 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 21 | 76 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half32-39Logan Imes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half33-39Logan Imes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-39Braeden Shrewsberry makes 23-foot three point jumper (Carson Towt assists)
- 2nd Half36-41Cameron Corhen makes layup (Barry Dunning Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half39-41Ryder Frost makes 25-foot three point jumper (Sir Mohammed assists)
- 2nd Half39-44Nojus Indrusaitis makes 26-foot three point jumper (Omari Witherspoon assists)
- 2nd Half39-46Nojus Indrusaitis makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half42-46Cole Certa makes 25-foot three point jumper (Carson Towt assists)
- 2nd Half44-46Sir Mohammed makes layup
- 2nd Half45-46Sir Mohammed makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half47-46Sir Mohammed makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half47-48Roman Siulepa makes layup
- 2nd Half49-48Carson Towt makes 2-foot dunk (Sir Mohammed assists)
- 2nd Half49-49Nojus Indrusaitis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-50Nojus Indrusaitis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-51Roman Siulepa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-52Roman Siulepa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-55Nojus Indrusaitis makes 23-foot three point jumper (Cameron Corhen assists)
- 2nd Half49-58Nojus Indrusaitis makes 26-foot three point jumper (Damarco Minor assists)
- 2nd Half52-58Ryder Frost makes 23-foot three point jumper (Logan Imes assists)
- 2nd Half52-60Omari Witherspoon makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-61Roman Siulepa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-62Omari Witherspoon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-63Roman Siulepa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-63Cole Certa makes layup
- 2nd Half55-63Cole Certa makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half55-64Cameron Corhen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-65Cameron Corhen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-65Cole Certa makes layup
- 2nd Half57-66Cameron Corhen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-67Cameron Corhen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-67Ryder Frost makes 30-foot three point jumper (Logan Imes assists)
- 2nd Half60-69Roman Siulepa makes 2-foot dunk (Nojus Indrusaitis assists)
- 2nd Half63-69Cole Certa makes 30-foot three point jumper (Ryder Frost assists)
- 2nd Half65-69Cole Certa makes layup
- 2nd Half66-69Cole Certa makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half66-71Roman Siulepa makes 3-foot dunk (Omari Witherspoon assists)
- 2nd Half68-71Brady Koehler makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half68-72Damarco Minor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-73Damarco Minor makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Pittsburgh Panthers, below favours Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Venue
- Petersen Events CenterPittsburgh, PA
- Attendance6406
- OfficialsA.J. Desai, Clarence Armstrong, Chase Shaw
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