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I Slept On It: Pitt In Real Danger

The Panthers dropped a home game to N.C. State, a result that moves them ever closer to the cut line. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State grabbed another big win and UNC survived.

By ChrisDobbertean
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport

"I Slept On It" is Blogging the Bracket's nearly daily roundup of the previous night's college basketball action, with a bracketology focus.

ACC

North Carolina (23-7, 13-4) won its 12th straight, holding off Notre Dame (15-16, 6-12) after a frenetic finish to a game that felt paused for about five minutes in the second half. The Tar Heels looked to have the game in hand at halftime, thanks to a 14-point lead, but a 17-3 Irish run to start the second half brought the teams even. Notre Dame's Pat Connaughton scored 17 and grabbed rebounds in a losing effort, while Eric Atkins led all scorers with 21. James Michael McAdoo led the victorious Heels with 14 and nine boards.

In the nightcap, Pittsburgh (22-8, 10-7) is now very much on the bubble, following a 74-67 collapse at home against N.C. State (17-12, 7-9), a team that desperately needed the win for its own hopes. The Wolfpack's T.J. Warren scored 41, a new scoring record for the Petersen Event Center. Pitt still has just a single Top 50 win and an unimpressive 5-8 mark against the Top 100. Really, only a lack of bad losses keeps the Panthers in the picture.

Big 12

Oklahoma State (20-10, 8-9) grabbed its 20th win and moved closer to safety by handling Kansas State (20-10, 10-7) in Stillwater by a 77-61 score. Phil Forte III led the Cowboys with 23, while Marcus Smart scored 18 in what was likely his final game a Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Big East

Seton Hall (15-15, 6-11), which previously beat Georgetown for a second time, now has a pair of season sweeps to its name. The Pirates took out Xavier (20-10, 10-7) days after the Musketeers appeared to have locked up a bid by defeating Creighton. Making matters worse for the Musketeers, center Matt Stainbrook left the game early with a knee injury.

Elsewhere

N.C. Central (24-5, 14-1) are the MEAC regular-season champions and a serious threat to make a two or three seed sweat should they cut down the nets in Norfolk. The Eagles defeated Savannah St. Tigers (11-18, 9-6) 64-57 after overtime in Durham.

The Patriot League Tournament opened with a pair of Opening Round games. No. 7 seed Colgate advanced to a game at American on Wednesday with a 57-51 win over No. 10 Navy. Meanwhile, top seed Boston U. will host ninth-seeded Lafayette, who handled eight seed Loyola, Md., 84-71. That game is also on Wednesday night.

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