Panthers avenge loss to UConn, get two more wins

With three wins during the break, the Pitt men’s basketball team saw two players reach career… With three wins during the break, the Pitt men’s basketball team saw two players reach career milestones, while extending the Panthers’ winning streak to six games.

Julius Page became the second player this season to reach the 1,000-point plateau in Pitt’s win over Connecticut, while Brandin Knight set a new mark at Pitt for career assists against Villanova.

Knight passed Sean Miller on the all-time list, finishing the regular season with 748 for his career.

The Panthers also completed their first season at the Petersen Events Center a perfect 16-0, marking the first time they have gone undefeated at home since the 1974-75 campaign.

Pitt 71, UConn 67

The Panthers were able to overcome the Huskies fast start to avenge last year’s loss in the Big East title game.

Page led the way for Pitt, leading all scorers with 17 points. Ontario Lett added 16 points of his own, while Chevon Troutman recorded a double double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

UConn came out running, using its transition offense to build a 13-point lead with eight minutes left in the first half. But Pitt was able to chip away at the lead, as the Panthers went on a 20-11 run to end the half, heading into the locker room down by just four.

After both teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of the second half, Page gave the Panthers the lead for good by scoring 11 straight points, turning a three-point deficit into a five-point lead.

The Huskies cut the lead down to two with 19 seconds left, but Ben Gordon and Rashad Anderson both missed three-point attempts and the Panthers were able to hold on for their 21st win of the season.

Pitt 86, Seton Hall 54

Pitt wrapped up its first season in the Pete in style, holding the Pirates to less than 40 percent shooting from the field.

Page and Lett lead the way again, as they scored 16 and 15 points, respectively. Knight chipped in with 10 assists and Carl Krauser added 13 points as the Panthers won at home by more than 30 points for the sixth time this season.

Seton Hall entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the country, having won nine games in a row, including a win over Pitt Feb. 15.

With 13:43 to go in the first half, Kelly Whitney scored to tie the game at 10. The Panthers responded by putting together a 14-0 run during the next four minutes.

The Pirates were able to cut the lead down to nine, but Pitt ended the half with a 14-7 run to increase its lead to 16 at halftime.

Pitt came out just as strong in the second half, building its lead up to 27 points. Seton Hall cut the lead down to 16 with 10:45 left to play, but it was not enough as the Panthers finished off the game by outscoring the Pirates 30-14.

Pitt 56, Villanova 54

The Panthers were able to hold on for their 13th Big East win of the season against a Villanova team that was playing with just seven players.

The Wildcats suspended 12 players, including leading scorers Gary Buchanan and Ricky Wright, for unauthorized telephone calls. The suspensions, which range between three and eight games, were staggered so that Villanova would be able to field a team for the remainder of the season.

Knight led Pitt with 15 points and six assists, breaking Miller’s record just before halftime. Jaron Brown added 14 points and Page had 11.

The Panthers held a 33-19 lead at halftime and were up by 10 points with 1:15 to go in the game, but the Wildcats were able to take advantage of Pitt’s poor free throw shooting and unnecessary fouls.

Derrick Snowden cut the lead to four points with a three pointer and, after Krauser missed two free throws, Allan Ray sunk two of his own to pull Villanova within two at 56-54.

With 40 seconds left and a chance to pull ahead by four, Knight missed two more free throws, giving the Wildcats one more chance. But Villanova was unable to capitalize and, despite another missed free throw by Knight, Pitt was able to hold on for the victory.

Pitt’s 56 points marked its lowest point total on the season. The Wildcats were the 13th team the Panthers have held below 60 points this year.

With a first-round bye in the Big East Tournament, the Panthers will return to action Thursday against the winner of today’s Providence-West Virginia game.