Fields delivers knockout blow

Levance Fields hit a step-back 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds to play to push No. 11-ranked Pitt… Levance Fields hit a step-back 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds to play to push No. 11-ranked Pitt past No. 6 Duke, 65-64, in overtime at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday.

Pitt (11-0) overcame a 13-point second-half deficit on the backs of Fields, freshman DeJuan Blair and Blair’s frontcourt mate Sam Young. Fields finished with 21 points, while Blair had 15 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks before fouling out with 1:36 remaining in overtime. Young had 17 points and seven rebounds.

The Panthers struggled mightily in the first half, going scoreless for more than six minutes midway through the period. During that span, Duke (10-1) took a 24-13 lead. The Blue Devils twice extended their lead to 16 points before closing the half, leading 34-22.

Pitt began chipping away at its deficit immediately, cutting the Blue Devils’ lead to eight less than three minutes into the second half. Duke pulled back to a 13-point lead at 39-26 before Pitt made its push.

The Panthers went on a 15-1 run over six minutes to take their first lead, 52-49, since scoring the game’s first basket. The teams traded baskets the rest of regulation before finishing in a tie, 58-58, and forcing Pitt’s first overtime game of the 2007-2008 season.

Fields scored five of Pitt’s seven overtime points. Duke missed a running 3-pointer and the putback as time ran out.

The Panthers have a nine-day break before traveling to Dayton for their second-to-last nonconference game.

Pitt wing Mike Cook wrenched his knee one minute into overtime while driving to the basket. The 6-foot-4 senior was noticeably in pain and left the floor. The trainers helped him up and Cook disappeared to the locker room, and his injured leg never touched the floor.

Check www.pittnews.com for more information about Cook’s injury.