Big Apple victory soured by injuries

Pitt basketball’s New Year’s resolution probably looks something like this: Keep winning… Pitt basketball’s New Year’s resolution probably looks something like this: Keep winning games and stay healthy.

The Panthers appeared to be a national force to be reckoned with after a thrilling 65-64 overtime comeback victory over then-No. 6-ranked Duke on Dec. 20. Guard Levance Fields nailed a 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds remaining to notch the win.

But that assertion was thrown into doubt after devastating injuries to two top starters and a subsequent 80-55 shellacking at the hands of Dayton on Dec. 29.

Senior Mike Cook was lost for the season after tearing his ACL and sustaining other knee damage in the overtime period of the Duke game. Cook is Pitt’s fourth leading scorer and had started the previous 48 games before the injury.

Only a week later, junior point guard Levance Fields broke a bone in his foot in the second half of the Dayton defeat. Fields’ prognosis is more encouraging, but he is still expected to miss at least eight weeks.

“We’re extremely disappointed for Levance,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said in a released statement. “We expect him to make a full recovery and return sometime later in the season.”

Results from the rest of winter break were mixed, with Pitt beating Oklahoma State and Lafayette but losing a crucial Big East opener to Villanova on the road.

Villanova 64, Pitt 63

In a game filled with lead changes and turnovers, it was the last of each that spelled Pitt’s demise against No. 16-ranked Villanova.

After Dante Cunningham made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to give the Wildcats a one-point advantage, Ramon committed the last of his five turnovers while trying to make a move on his defender.

Pitt played very sloppily throughout, turning the ball over 22 times compared to Villanova’s 10.

The Panthers were in position to win after Blair made a turn around shot to make it 63-62.

The defense held Villanova star Scottie Reynolds to only four points but reserve guard Malcolm Grant netted 22.

Young paced Pitt with 16 points, and Blair added 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Pitt 96, Lafayette 75

The Panthers rebounded well from the Dayton loss and the injuries to overcome upstart Lafayette Leopards on Jan. 2.

Lafayette made 17 3-pointers, a record against Pitt, and held a 41-39 halftime advantage. But Pitt immediately turned up the heat on both sides of the ball while the Leopards’ shooting went cold.

Pitt got important contributions from regular role players Keith Benjamin and Tyrell Biggs, now vital pieces because of the losses of Cook and Fields. Benjamin scored 20 points and Biggs added 19.

Young threw in another 19 points, and Ronald Ramon had 11 with 10 assists without a turnover in his first game as the starting point guard.

Dayton 80, Pitt 55

Pitt’s magic ran out on Dec. 29 on the road against Brian Roberts and the Dayton Flyers.

Roberts was scorching all night long, recording 31 points on 10-of-17 shooting. The guard also made five of his eight 3-point attempts.

The Panthers knew Dayton had a talented squad – the Flyers upset Big East contender Louisville on the road earlier in the month. But Pitt again started poorly, and could not overcome its mistakes this time.

Awful shooting and early foul trouble, particularly for Blair, plagued Pitt. The club only made 3 of 25 3-pointers and shot 29.7 percent for the game.

But the worst news came when Fields missed a layup a few minutes into the second half. He came down fine, but after backing up a few steps, fell to the ground in severe pain. The injury sealed the Panthers’ fate for the game, with the future of the team in doubt.

Sam Young led Pitt with 15 points in the game on only 5-of-17 shooting.

Pitt 65, Duke 64 (OT)

Pitt’s most anticipated non-conference game in years didn’t disappoint, and the nationally televised game at Madison Square Garden put the Panthers in the spotlight despite the tragic loss of Cook.

Fields’ winning 3 was the icing on the cake after Pitt completed a miracle comeback after playing horribly in the first half. The Panthers were down by 16 at one point and committed 13 first-half turnovers.

A stunning turnaround in the second half gave Pitt its first lead since 2-0 at 50-49 with a 3-pointer by Fields with 5:27 left. Fields led the team with 21 points.

Blair was a monster on the boards, pulling down 20 rebounds to go with 15 points before fouling out in overtime.

Pitt led, 58-56, late in the game but Duke’s Gerald Henderson made a jumper with less than a minute left to send the game to an extra frame.

Cook was injured a minute into overtime on a traveling call. He screamed in agony while Dixon came out to hold his hand.

Fields, Cook’s best friend on the team, got redemption for his fallen teammate with the game-winning bucket.

“I can’t say enough about our players,” Dixon said after the game. “I am very proud of this team.”

Pitt 85, Oklahoma St. 68

Pitt started the semester break off right with an 85-68 drubbing of Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State on Dec. 15.

All five Pitt starters reached double figures, with center DeJuan Blair pacing the club with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Fields added 17 points and six assists, while Cook and Sam Young scored 15 apiece. Pitt’s defense was not to be left out either. Oklahoma State freshman James Anderson only tallied eight points after having three straight 20-point affairs.