Panthers get back on track

As seniors, you would expect Brandin Knight and Donatas Zavackas to produce big numbers in… As seniors, you would expect Brandin Knight and Donatas Zavackas to produce big numbers in conference games.

After Knight and Zavackas combined for a mere 21 points on six-of-22 shooting in Saturday’s loss to Seton Hall, both players turned their game around last night, scoring 40 points in the Panthers’ 82-67 victory over Georgetown.

Knight’s big night was capped when he reached a personal plateau. With a season-high 23 points, Knight moved to 12th place behind Jerry McCullough on Pitt’s all-time leading scorers list.

A huge aspect to the big conference win was free throw shooting. Pitt had an uncharacteristic 83 percent from the line on 24-of-29 shooting. The most astounding statistic on the game was the 91.3 percent excellence from the charity stripe in the second half.

The game was slated for Monday but was postponed until Tuesday evening because of the inclement weather in Washington, D.C. It was a must-win game for the Panthers (18-4 overall, 8-3 Big East), who had lost their last three on the road.

“We came out today ready to play,” head coach Ben Howland said. “We kept battling.”

Pitt started the game when Ontario Lett broke through the Hoyas’ man-to-man defense to score the opening basket. However Georgetown (11-11 overall and 3-8 conference) answered the Panther threat and took advantage of four Pitt turnovers in five minutes to score eight unanswered points.

Lett scored all four of Pitt’s opening points but committed his second foul on the 14:49 mark and was sent to the bench.

Chevon Troutman, getting the starting nod over Zavackas, grabbed two rebounds and scored two points that put the Panthers within three points of the lead.

Toree Morris also had a strong defensive first half, being the powerful body the Panthers needed in their successful two-three zone.

Pitt had a hard time containing Mike Sweetney. Finishing with a game-high 28 points, Sweetney was a constant threat underneath and from the foul line.

“It is amazing how [Sweetney] runs the floor,” Howland said. “He has to be my all-time favorite Big East opposing player.”

After being down most of the first half, the Panthers began a comeback at the 9:46 mark. Jaron Brown pulled Pitt within two points on a layup off a Knight pass. After a Hoya layup, Morris then set a screen for Knight who knocked down a three-point shot, putting Pitt within one point.

After a Sweetney miss, Brown knocked down an eight-foot jumper to regain the first Panther lead since the opening seconds.

Carl Krauser and Knight sunk consecutive shots from behind the arc, only to be answered by Gerald Riley’s three-pointer.

The final three minutes of the opening half were a back and forth battle of three point shots between Zavackas and Georgetown’s Tony Bethel.

After Bethel sunk his third three-pointer of the half, Krauser used a second screen by Morris to score the layup, which made the score 33-33 at the half.

Pitt opened the scoring in the second half with a Julius Page three-point shot. With points underneath from Knight and Brown, Pitt opened the second half, outscoring Georgetown, 7-0.

The Hoyas, led by five points from Sweetney, answered with a 9-0 run, placing them ahead by two points.

After Zavackas knocked down a three point shot, Pitt went ahead 43-42 and never lost grasp of its their lead.

With 8:51 remaining, Bethel’s foul put the Panthers in the bonus where they dominated the rest of the game from the foul line. Pitt only missed two free throws in the second half, going 21-for-23.

Knight’s football pass led to a Troutman dunk with 4:20 remaining. Sweetney retaliated with his final points on the night.

Georgetown’s main three-point threats, Bethel and Riley, both fouled out, clearing the way to Panther victory.

Brown iced three sets of free throws to close the game.

“His shot was beautiful,” Howland said of Brown’s performance from the line. “The team foul shooting was just unbelievable.”

The final seconds of the game forced Hoya Drew Hall’s aggressions to show. Hall pounded Page on a rebound, which was good for his fifth foul. Page then pushed Hall, which warranted the only technical foul on the night.

The Panther victory was only the second time that Pitt has swept Georgetown in the season series since 1982.

“This was a big road win,” Howland said. “The bus ride home will be more tolerable.”

Pitt’s next game is home on Saturday, when the Panthers battle Rutgers in conference action. The Panthers are undefeated at home this season.