Graves awakens to clip Golden Eagles

On a day when Carl Krauser passed former Panther Brandin Knight on Pitt’s all-time scoring… On a day when Carl Krauser passed former Panther Brandin Knight on Pitt’s all-time scoring list, it was an almost-forgotten guard leading the Panthers to victory.

Junior Antonio Graves, a former starter and now reserve guard averaging 16 minutes per game, scored a career-high 19 points, as Pitt (17-1 overall, 6-1 Big East) rallied past visiting Marquette, 77-71, Saturday at the Petersen Events Center.

“It’s been a tough year for me and I’m just trying to stick with it,” Graves said after the game. “I’ve just been trying to do everything it takes to succeed. Carl kept encouraging me.”

Krauser – the team’s senior leader – added 16 points, six assists and six steals, but his off-the-court leadership for Graves provided more than any stat sheet.

“If anyone comes to me with problems on or off the court, I’m willing to help them,” Krauser said. “I just talk to them and encourage them, try to give them confidence.”

Graves and Krauser weren’t the only two in on the action, though.

Ronald Ramon joined Pitt’s stellar guard play, posting double figures with 13 points, while Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall teamed up to dominate the boards underneath.

Gray, holding a size advantage over the Golden Eagles’ frontcourt, picked up 13 points and 20 rebounds, including nine offensive boards, for his 10th double-double of the season – the most in the Big East.

“I don’t go out there so much and worry about scoring points, but to get rebounds,” Gray said. “A lot of times the ball was falling my way.”

Down as much as 12 early in the first half, the Panthers fought back to a seven-point deficit at halftime, 40-33. In the second half, their defensive intensity picked up as they claimed their first lead.

During a media timeout with 11:47 remaining in the game, Pitt showcased Krauser on the Jumbotron, notifying the crowd that he surpassed Knight to move into 13th all-time on Pitt’s scoring list.

After the timeout, Krauser slipped through a couple screens and found an open spot in the corner. On a pass from Levance Fields, he kissed a 3-pointer in off the glass to tie the game at 47.

Seconds later, he stole the ball before Marquette reached half court and headed in for an open layup and Pitt’s first lead. As he neared the rim, he lifted two fingers to his lips and provided another kiss – this time to the camera.

“That was for my son, who was back home,” he said. “I told him I was going to show him some love.”

Marquette guard and strong candidate for Big East Rookie of the Year Dominic James led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting despite missing much of the second half with an injury.

He left after being fouled by Fields and falling to the ground, holding his shoulder in pain. While he was gone, Pitt continued on and built a lead which Marquette responded to for a bit, but the Eagles didn’t have enough in the tank after losing their second-leading scorer.

Graves, who finished 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, put Pitt back on top for good at 61-58 with 5:33 remaining in the game after draining a 3 from the corner. He then sealed the deal, scoring Pitt’s final two points on free throws for the 77-71 win.

“I’m not on the radar as far as scouting reports go,” Graves said. “I thought I’d be able to get some open shots.”

Marquette (15-6, 5-3) hosts St. John’s Thursday, while Pitt travels to No. 1-ranked Connecticut Tuesday for a matchup with the Huskies.

Connecticut’s only loss of the season came thanks to Marquette on Jan. 3, but the Golden Eagles’ head coach Tom Crean offered no comparison of his own between the two teams.

“I’ll leave that up to you and the experts to dissect,” he said. “They’re two very good teams.”

He did, however, praise Pitt for the game and its play underneath.

“Pitt earned the victory,” Marquette coach Tom Crean said. “When you lose the battle [on the boards] by 15, it’s very hard to win the game.”

As for Graves and his breakout performance, Crean answered quickly with very little thought.

“It was his day,” he said.

Loose Balls-Graves’ previous career-high was 18 during a Panther win at Penn State last season-Novak, the reigning Big East Player of the Week, fouled out with only eight points. The shooter has come up big for the Golden Eagles this season, scoring 41 points in the blowout win over UConn to open conference play. He also hit the game winner against Notre Dame last week-Gray’s nine offensive rebounds equaled the output of Marquette-The Golden Eagles are the only new addition to the Big East that appear to be enjoying any kind of success in conference. Fellow newcomers Louisville, Cincinnati, DePaul and South Florida all have losing records in Big East play-.When Pitt visits UConn on Tuesday, history will not be on the Panthers’ side. In the 100 years of Pitt basketball, the program is winless when facing No. 1-ranked teams, a position that the Huskies (18-1 overall, 6-1 Big East) took over when Duke lost to Georgetown last week.