Pitt edges Providence
PITTSBURGH (AP) – This looked familiar to No. 4 Pittsburgh – a dwindling lead late in the second half and plenty of opportunities at the foul line. Only this time, for the most part, the Panthers made the free throws.
Pittsburgh, making the foul shots it couldn’t in losing its previous game, overcame Ryan Gomes’ 26 points and Providence’s upset bid for a 68-61 victory Tuesday night.
Ontario Lett scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half as Pitt opened a 13-point lead, then withstood a determined Providence comeback to stay unbeaten at home this season.
Jaron Brown added 15 points, including going 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the second half, and Brandin Knight had 11 points and nine rebounds as Pitt (16-2, 6-1 Big East) won for the seventh time in eight games.
The Panthers rebounded from a 67-65 loss Saturday at No. 19 Syracuse in which they went 14-of-29 at the line while squandering a double-digit lead.
Partly because of that effort, Pitt came into the game shooting only 60.2 percent from the line. But the Panthers were 8-of-9 in the first half and 15-of-23 in the second.
“I’m disappointed we gave up the lead again, but making our free throws was huge,” Pitt coach Ben Howland said.
Krauser, a redshirt freshman, started for Page and had four points, four assists and eight rebounds. Knight played all but one minute although he hasn’t practiced for a week because of a sprained ankle.
“Right now, it’s killing me,” Knight said. “I need to get back out there (in practice) and start running around.”
Page has improved significantly since Saturday, Howland said, and should be ready to play Sunday at No. 10 Notre Dame.