Pitt finishes non-conference schedule undefeated

For the first time in school history, Pitt ended its non-conference schedule undefeated,… For the first time in school history, Pitt ended its non-conference schedule undefeated, winning eight home games during the winter break.

The Panthers, who won the Pittsburgh Holiday Hoops Tournament, are off to their best start since the 1915-1916 season and are No. 15 in both the Associated Press and the Coaches’ polls.

Pitt 57, Youngstown State 42

Julius Page and Chevon Troutman scored 14 points each to lead the Panthers over the Penguins for Pitt’s seventh win of the season. Jaron Brown chipped in 10 points as the Panthers won their 27th consecutive game at home.

Neither team shot well in the first half, but Pitt led 25-16 at halftime. The Panthers made just one of their seven three-point field goals, but were able to pull away in the second half.

Pitt 79, Georgetown College (Ky.) 74

Five Pitt players scored in double figures as the Panthers were able to fend off a late comeback by the Tigers.

Carl Krauser scored 18 points in Pitt’s opening game of the Pittsburgh Holiday Hoops Tournament. Chris Taft added a career-high 16 points, and Page added 17 to continue the Panthers’ home winning streak.

Marshall Williams had 25 points to lead all scorers as Georgetown nearly overcame a seven-point deficit with two minutes remaining in the game.

Pitt 79, Chicago State 51

The Panthers shot almost 54 percent from the field, including 61 percent in the first half, to defeat the Cougars in Pitt’s second game of the tournament.

Page led the way for Pitt with 14 points on five-of-six shooting. Krauser and Yuri Demetris added 10 each as Pitt led 50-18 at halftime. Tony Weeden scored 14 points for Chicago State.

Pitt 70, Murray State 49

Mark McCarroll made his first career start in place of an injured Troutman and scored a career-high 14 points to help knock off previously undefeated Murray State in game three of the tournament for Pitt.

Krauser led all scorers with 19 points, and redshirt freshman Levon Kendall added a career-high 11 points off the bench. Taft tied a school record with seven blocks to go along with his 10 points as Pitt held the Racers to just 29 percent shooting from the field.

The Panthers improved to 10-0 with the win, their best start since the 1929-1930 season.

Pitt 63, Florida State 56

The Panthers captured the Holiday Hoops title by defeating the Seminoles, and Krauser, who had 17 points and eight assists in the win, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

McCarroll made his second straight start and scored 13 points, while Brown had 10 points and 10 rebounds, the fifth double-double of his career.

Pitt 52, New Hampshire 38

Page scored a game-high 19 points and tied a career-high with five three-pointers to lead Pitt over the Wildcats. The Panthers held a 50-36 advantage on the boards, as Taft (12) and Brown (11) set career-highs in rebounds, while Troutman grabbed 10 of his own.

Blago Janev led New Hampshire with 13 points, and the Wildcats shot just 26 percent from the field.

Pitt 76, Georgia 55

McCarroll came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points as Pitt avenged last season’s loss in Athens, Ga. Page just missed out on a triple-double, scoring 18 points while dishing out a career-high eight assists and grabbing eight rebounds.

The Panthers shot 63 percent from the field, led by McCarroll, who made his first 10 shots and just missed tying Brian Shorter’s school record for field goal percentage in a game.

Pitt 70, William and Mary 55

The Panthers completed their non-conference schedule undefeated for the first time in school history after defeating the Tribe.

Brown scored a season-high 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Pitt extended the nation’s longest home winning streak to 34 games. Troutman added 18 points and six assists and freshman Antonio Graves scored 10 points in place of an injured Krauser.