Men’s basketball: Panthers squeak past Providence

Every team fears a hangover after a big win. After a dominating win over the No. 4 team in the… Every team fears a hangover after a big win. After a dominating win over the No. 4 team in the country in Connecticut, the members of Pitt men’s basketball team needed to find a way to get fired up for their match against Big East foe Providence.

It wasn’t easy, but the No. 5 Panthers managed to leave Providence, R.I., with an 83-79 victory.

Out of the gate, Gilbert Brown was unstoppable. After starting 5-for-5 from the 3-point line, Brown’s 17 points in the first half led Pitt to a 38-31 lead after 20 minutes. He finished the game with a team-high 19 points.

But Providence, who was 11-3 coming into the game, would not be put away. Pitt continued to hold the pace through the start of the half, but at the 13-minute mark Providence had made a run to bring it to a 48-47 Pitt lead.

Behind the strong play of senior guard Marshon Brooks, who had a game-high 28 points, Providence matched Pitt’s intensity and scoring.

The Panthers seemed sloppy and a little off balance once Providence set their full court press, leading to a few uncharacteristic turnovers that led to big plays for the Friars offense. Pitt finished with 22 turnovers, a number no coach likes to see.

Fortunately, the Panthers took advantage of the possessions they had, shooting over 50 percent from the field and beyond the arc.

With just over two minutes left to play, Providence’s Duke Mondy came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer that gave the Friars a 72-71 lead and a frightening amount of momentum heading into the home stretch. Pitt responded to take the lead 73-72 behind a strong move from Gary McGhee, but Providence would fire right back when Brooks hit a 3-point shot through Brown’s smothering defense. The three gave Providence another lead, this time with 90 seconds left in the game.

On Pitt’s next possession, Brad Wanamaker drove to the basket before a Providence defender drew a charge that knocked Wanamaker out of the game with five fouls. But Pitt turned bad into good when Travon Woodall came off the bench for Wanamaker. On the following possession, Woodall hit a three with 36 seconds left to give Pitt the lead again, this time for good.

Behind clutch free-throw shooting by both Woodall and McGhee down the stretch, Pitt sealed the victory and advanced to 2-0 in the Big East and 14-1 on the season. Pitt’s next game is against Marquette at the Petersen Events Center, Saturday at 7 p.m.