PITTSBURGH — Syracuse made any discussion of its NCAA prospects a moot point earlier this week, issuing a self-imposed postseason ban pending the outcome of an investigation into violations that date back nearly a decade.

Pittsburgh has no such limitations outside of its own sometimes erratic play. Their backs to the wall yet again, the Panthers — clad in all black for the first time — responded by fanning their flickering prospects with a spirited rally.

Jamel Artis scored 20 points including the clinching 3-pointer with a minute to play and Pitt surged past the Orange 83-77 on Saturday.

“We’ve got a lot of momentum on our side right now,” forward Michael Young said.

Even without senior guard Cam Wright, who left early in the first half with a left ankle injury and did not return. Seldom-used reserve Sheldon Jeter filled in admirably, scoring a career-high 18 points as Pitt (16-8, 5-5 ACC) won its third straight. Jeter, who transferred to Pitt after spending his freshman year at Vanderbilt, made 7 of 9 shots, the biggest a putback with 30 seconds to go.

“My minutes are kind of erratic, whatever time I get, I want to make the most of it,” Jeter said.

Rakeem Christmas and Michael Gbinije led Syracuse (15-8, 6-4) with 23 points each but the Orange crumbled down the stretch three days after the school voluntarily pulled itself out of any tournament consideration — the ACC tournament included — while awaiting the results of an investigation by the NCAA Committee on Infractions on potential wrongdoing in the athletic department between 2007-12.

Guard Trevor Cooney said the knowledge the season will end at North Carolina State on March 7 did not have an impact on his team’s performance.

“We didn’t come out here and get blown out by 25,” Cooney said.