From Mirror, wire reports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nikita Konstantynovskyi scored with a tip-in in the final minute and Tae Davis hit 1 of 2 free throws with 0.5 seconds left after a controversial foul to help Notre Dame rally for a 55-54 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

Tied at 54-all, Notre Dame inbounded with 19.2 seconds left. Markus Burton dribbled down the clock until about five seconds were left and drove to his right for a contested shot that came up short. Davis grabbed the offensive rebound, but his shot rolled off the rim as time expired.

A foul was called on Zack Austin trying to prevent the putback and, after a review to see if the buzzer had sounded, Davis made the first of two free throws. He missed the second and Jaland Lowe’s three-quarter-court heave came up short.

“Really hated the way it ended,” Pitt coach Jeff Capel said. “I’ve been coaching for 25 years. I still can’t believe it. Shocked at how it ended for us. It’s a way I’ve never seen to end a ballgame in my 25 years of doing this.”

The 12th-seeded Fighting Irish (15-17) will play No. 5 seed North Carolina in the second round today. The Tar Heels beat the Fighting Irish 74-73 on the road in the only matchup during the regular season.

“I’m just hurt,” Austin said with his head down in the interview room after the game. “I’m just hurt.”

“I’m in disbelief,” Lowe added. “I’m hurt. Nobody should have to go out like this.”

Davis had 11 points to lead Notre Dame. Konstantynovskyi totaled 10 points and nine rebounds. Burton had 10 points, four steals and six of the Irish’s 17 turnovers.

“I’m hurt, frustrated, angry,” Capel said. “It’s hard for me to think about the past two months. I try to be in our players’ moment, and this was a moment, and it’s really hard to see them hurting like this.”

Lowe scored 17 on 6-for-18 shooting to lead the 13th-seeded Panthers (17-15). Cameron Corhen scored 10.

“Well, we made some shoots,” said Capel when asked about his team taking the lead early in the second half. “We got good looks in the first half, and we didn’t turn it over, but when all is said, we’re done.”

Konstantynovskyi had six points and five rebounds in the first half to help Notre Dame take a 25-22 lead at the break. Lowe had nine points for Pitt. The Fighting Irish shot 37% from the floor and missed 13 of 16 from 3-point range. The Panthers shot 28.6% and missed 10 of 12 from beyond the arc.

PITTSBURGH (17-15): Austin 3-8 0-0 8, Corhen 5-7 0-1 10, Cummings 2-8 4-4 9, Leggett 2-9 0-0 4, Lowe 6-18 4-4 17, G.Diaz Graham 2-3 0-0 4, Delalic 0-2 0-0 0, J.Diaz Graham 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 21-58 8-9 54.

NOTRE DAME (15-17): Davis 3-10 5-6 11, Konstantynovskyi 4-4 2-2 10, Allocco 3-6 0-0 9, Burton 4-14 2-2 10, Roper 4-10 0-0 8, Konieczny 0-0 0-0 0, Certa 1-5 0-0 3, Mohammed 2-3 0-0 4, Sundra 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 9-10 55.

Halftime–Notre Dame 25-22. 3-Point Goals–Pittsburgh 4-22 (Austin 2-5, Cummings 1-5, Lowe 1-5, Delalic 0-2, J.Diaz Graham 0-2, Leggett 0-3), Notre Dame 4-20 (Allocco 3-6, Certa 1-4, Sundra 0-1, Burton 0-3, Davis 0-3, Roper 0-3). Rebounds–Pittsburgh 26 (Leggett 7), Notre Dame 31 (Konstantynovskyi 9). Assists–Pittsburgh 10 (Lowe 4), Notre Dame 9 (Burton 3). Total Fouls–Pittsburgh 12, Notre Dame 12.