Pitt hosts Rutgers in key matchup

Home sweet home.

The Pitt men’s basketball team will return to the Petersen Events Center… Home sweet home.

The Pitt men’s basketball team will return to the Petersen Events Center Saturday night to host Big East West Division rival Rutgers. The Panthers have played four of their last six games on the road, and are 3-3 during that span.

Both teams will be looking to gain some momentum heading into the home stretch of the Big East schedule. Pitt (18-4 overall, 8-3 Big East) snapped a three-game road-losing streak Tuesday with a 82-67 victory at Georgetown. The Scarlet Knights (11-12, 3-8) have lost three of their last five, and are coming off a 87-70 road loss to the Connecticut Huskies.

Pitt defeated Rutgers 70-63 in a Jan. 12 matchup between the two teams at Rutgers’ Lewis Brown Athletic Center. The Panthers managed to spread the wealth in that game, as four of Pitt’s five starters scored in double figures.

The guard play in Saturday’s matchup could be a key factor in its outcome. Brandin Knight led the way for the Panthers in the Jan. 12 game, scoring 17 points and notching five assists in the win.

That line, in combination with Knight’s recent hot streak, could prove to be a dangerous combination for the Scarlet Knights. After struggling against Notre Dame and West Virginia last week, Knight has regained his shooter’s touch, going for 11 points at Seton Hall on Saturday and torching Georgetown for 23 on Tuesday.

Knight’s counterpart, Jerome Coleman, is one of the best guards in the Big East this season. The 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pound Coleman had a game high 20 points in the first contest between the two teams this season, and his 17.2 points per game lead the Scarlet Knights.

In the frontcourt, the Panthers will have to deal with 6-foot-10-inch junior Herve Lamizana. Lamizana leads Rutgers with 6.7 rebounds per game, and he scored 20 points against Connecticut on Wednesday. Lamizana has five 20-point performances for the Scarlet Knights this season, and his matchup with Donatas Zavackas will be crucial in a game where both teams will get productive guard play.

Like Knight, Zavackas has hit a recent scoring streak after struggling on and off throughout the season. Zavackas led the Panthers in scoring with 15 points in last week’s win against West Virginia, and he racked up 17 points against Georgetown.

He and Chevon Troutman, who has come off the bench this season to average 11.8 points per game and lead the Big East with a .738 field goal percentage, will take on the scoring load in the paint. Ontario Lett will do the dirty work down low for the Panthers; his eight rebounds were a game high against Rutgers earlier this season, and his 5.3 rebounds per game leads the team.

The outcome of the Pitt-Rutgers game will be crucial for both teams in terms of Big East standings. The Panthers are currently in a three-way race with Notre Dame and Syracuse for first place in the Big East West Division. The three teams each have three conference losses, and a first-place finish would ensure a first-round bye in March’s Big East Tournament.

The Scarlet Knights, meanwhile, are fighting for their postseason lives. Rutgers is tied with Georgetown for sixth place in the Big East West Division. Only the top six teams in each division earn a bid to play in the Big East Tournament.

Ultimately, the Panthers’ largest advantage in this game will be their home court. Rutgers is 2-7 on the road this season, while Pitt is undefeated at the Pete.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.