Basketball: Gibbs explodes, Panthers get first win of 2012

The Pitt men’s basketball team finally ended its losing streak on Wednesday night… Late in the first half of Wednesday night’s game, Ashton Gibbs decided that he’d had enough.

With the men’s basketball team up just six points against Providence, the senior guard and Big East Preseason Player of the Year took over the game by finally doing what he does best: He started making shots.

Gibbs drained five straight shots on consecutive possessions — including four 3-pointers — to blow the game open and help end Pitt’s eight-game losing streak as the Panthers (12-9, 1-7 Big East) defeated the Friars (12-9, 1-7 Big East) by a score of 86-74 at the Petersen Events Center.

The victory marks Pitt’s first win since the team defeated St. Francis in December. With the win, the Panthers avoided a five-game home losing streak at the Pete — what would have been the longest in the building’s history. It’s also the Panthers’ first Big East win since last March.

Gibbs, who finished with a team-high 22 points, wasn’t the only Pitt player making shots.

The Panthers finished the contest shooting 49.2 percent from the field, their best percentage since their last victory more than a month ago.

“We got some good shots early, got in a rhythm and got some confidence,” head coach Jamie Dixon said in a post-game press conference. “Getting good shots early is a big difference-maker. We shot the ball well and that was something good to see.”

Not only did Pitt shoot well, but it also took better care of the ball and only committed 10 turnovers.

With the losing streak now behind them, the Panthers are looking forward to moving on and trying to build upon their first Big East victory.

“It feels good,” Gibbs said in a post-game press conference. “But at the same time, we’ve got to move onto the next game. We can hold our heads high, but we have another game on Saturday.”

Following a back-and-forth start to the game, junior point guard Travon Woodall — starting for the second consecutive game after returning from his groin and abdomen injuries — drained a 3-pointer to give the Panthers a four-point lead and spark an 11-3 Pitt run.

The basket was Woodall’s first since returning from injury. After struggling against Louisville last Saturday, the junior point guard looked more like his old self and finished the game with 17 points and 9 assists.

“I just didn’t feel like I had enough legs under me Saturday,” Woodall said in a post-game press conference. “Tonight, I just went out there and played basketball.”

Providence head coach Ed Cooley said Pitt is a transformed team with its point guard back in the lineup.

“They’re a totally different team [with Woodall],” Cooley said in a press conference. “Everybody’s in their roles. Everybody’s in their comfort zone.”

Dixon agreed and said that plenty of teams would struggle without their starting point guard.

“Most teams are more confident when they have their point guard on the floor,” he said. “The players have confidence in him.”

Just as the Friars were beginning to slowly cut into the Panthers’ lead, Gibbs exploded.

By the time Gibbs finished scoring 14 consecutive points, Pitt’s lead burst to 15.

“I was feeling it,” Gibbs said. “Once one shot went in, I just felt good. They gave me open opportunities, and I took advantage of them.”

After the break, Providence tried to battle back with the help of guard Vincent Council’s game-high 26 points and got the deficit to as few as seven points midway through the second half. But every time the Friars got close, the Panthers responded.

“When we went into the locker room, we talked about sustaining the lead,” Woodall said. “Coach Dixon made some great calls, and we wanted to get the best possible shots up, and that helped us get the victory.”

The Panthers will try to begin a winning streak when they finish up a three-game home stand and host Georgetown Saturday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center.

“We’ve got a lot more work to do and a lot more wins to go,” Woodall said.