While you were drinking last night, Pitt and West Virginia played the game of the year

This one looked like it was all over.

Pitt, who had been down by eight to ten points for a good chunk of the second half, found themselves in a 66-59 hole with just over a minute left to play. After Brad Wanamaker missed a lay-up, the ball ended up in Truck Bryant's hands. He was fouled and sent to the line with a chance to ice the game.

He missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but Da'Sean Butler was there to get the offensive rebound. Butler was fouled, but he, too, missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Ashton Gibbs knocked down a short jumper at the other end before the Panthers again fouled Butler, and he again missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Travon Woodall was fouled going to the rim to cut the lead to three.

After Truck Bryant finally knocked down two free throws for WVU, Woodall answered with a quick layup at the other end with 29 seconds left. Brad Wanamaker would steal the ensuing in bounds pass -- while managing to barely, if at all, keep his toes inbounds -- and find Gibbs on the wing, who was open and buried a three to tie the game and force the first overtime.

A three from Ashton Gibbs forced the first overtime.
(photo credit:

And believe it or not, we were just getting started.

By the time they were finished, they played 55 minutes of basketball at the Peterson Events Center in what was without a doubt the game of the year thus far in college hoops.

In the first overtime, Pitt took an early five point lead, but the Mountaineers were able to recover, scoring the next five points via the foul line to tie the game. After Gilbert Brown had a thunderous dunk in traffic to put Pitt up 77-75 with 44 seconds left, Kevin Jones and Butler both missed threes at the other end that would have given the 'Eers the lead. Ashton Gibbs, a 90% free throw shooter, was fouled and sent to the line for two shots. He missed the second, and Truck Bryant buried a three with three seconds left to force the second OT.

Wanamaker broke an 83-all tie with and and-one lay-up. A Butler jumper followed by two free throws from Pitt game WVU the ball, down three, with 30 seconds left. The ball ended up in Butler's hands, and he was fouled shooting a three by Gary McGhee. He would hit all three free throws, and after Pitt missed a shot, the loose ball ended up in Woodall's hands. He took an 18 foot fadeaway, drilling it ... a split second after buzzer. Third OT.

Nasir Robinson gave Pitt a 94-93 lead in the third overtime. Butler answered with a jumper, but it would be the last points that WVU scored. Gilbert Brown was fouled on a drive at the other end, making both free throws. After Butler missed a jumper, Ashton Gibbs hit two more free throws, giving Pitt a 98-95 lead. Bryant missed a shot at the other end, McGhee grabbed the board, and that was it.

It was an incredible game to watch, especially when you consider that these two teams, known more for their staunch defenses than their efficient offense, combined for just 15 turnovers in 55 minutes of basketball.

Intriguingly enough, the most controversial part of the game will end up being one of those 15 turnovers. Was Brad Wanamaker, in fact, out of bounds when he made the steal that eventually forced the first overtime?

The West Virginia faithful will undoubtedly say he was, while Panther fans will claim he got his foot up in time.

Me?

I think that if West Virginia hadn't missed three front ends, it wouldn't have mattered.

Da'Sean Butler was the leading scorer on this night, going for 32 points, 11 boards, 3 assists and no turnovers in 50 minutes. But Ashton Gibbs (24 points), Brad Wanamaker (24 points, 10 assists), and Travon Woodall (12 points, 7 boards, 6 assists, 0 turnovers) were too much.

This win was more than just a victory in the latest edition of the Backyard Brawl. Pitt had lost four of six in the Big East coming into tonight, closing the gap between themselves and teams like Marquette and Louisville. Not only does this win create a three-way tie for third place in the conference, it helps to legitimize Pitt's standing among the Big East elite, something that wasn't as clear the last two or three weeks.