Jan 3, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A scoreboard message in support of injured Buffalo Bills and former Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Damar Hamlin is shown during the first half between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Virginia Cavaliers basketball teams at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Pitt basketball paid tribute to former Panthers football star Damar Hamlin after his horrific injury and then upset Virginia by 3, his number at Pitt.
In the film adaptation of Moneyball, Brad Pitt as Billy Beane offers an iconic adage near the end of the movie: “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” But really, the better iteration is how can you not be romantic about sports. Pitt basketball was evidence of that on Tuesday night.
One day after former Pittsburgh Panthers star defensive back, now with the Buffalo Bills, went into cardiac arrest on the field during Monday Night Football and had to have CPR administered before being transported to a Cincinnati hospital, the Panthers hoops team was in action against a No. 11-ranked Virginia team.
Before the game, though, Pitt honored Hamlin with a touching tribute.
That was just the beginning of an unreal night and moment.
Pitt basketball upsets Virginia in poetic fashion after paying tribute to former Panthers DB Damar Hamlin
Pitt, unranked coming into the matchup, put up a spirited effort and held a six-point lead in the final moments. That’s when Cavaliers guard Reece Beekman hit a meaningless last-second heave that ultimately gave the Panthers a 68-65 win. A three-point victory.
Damar Hamlin wore No. 3 while at Pitt.
It’s these types of moments that even the Hollywood script-writers couldn’t concoct. A program deeply shaken by an injury and incident affecting one of their own pulls off a momentous victory in poetic fashion.
It was also a massive win for Pitt basketball, a team that has struggled to even reach .500 in recent years, that now sits at 11-4, 3-0 in ACC play and has victories over North Carolina and Virginia to its credit.