A clean sweep for Panthers
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) – Carl Krauser hit a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left and Chevon Troutman made four free throws in the final seconds to lead No. 17 Pittsburgh past No. 9 Syracuse 68-64 on Monday night. It was the second straight home loss after a 16-game winning streak at the Carrier Dome for Syracuse (22-4, 9-3 Big East), which was coming off its best game of the season, a 90-75 win at No. 25 Villanova.
Pittsburgh (18-4, 8-3) won for the sixth time in seven games and completed a season sweep of the Orange.
Troutman was 16-for-20 from the free throw line and finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Krauser had 15 points and five assists, and Chris Taft had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Pitt, which had a 41-32 rebound advantage.
Louie McCroskey, who lost his starting job two games ago, scored a career-high 18 points for the Orange, while Gerry McNamara had 16 points and 10 assists, and Hakim Warrick, plagued by foul trouble, matched his season-low with 12 points. Josh Pace, who had 21 points against Villanova, did not score and took only two shots.
Syracuse, which entered the game shooting 50 percent from the field, hit 37.7 percent Monday.
After Krauser’s three-point play moved Pittsburgh within 48-47 midway through the second half, Syracuse went on a 9-2 run and appeared headed for a tough victory. A steal and layup by McNamara put the Orange up 57-49 with 7:45 left.
But Krauser hit two 3s and Troutman nailed a curling hook past Syracuse center Craig Forth to tie it at 60 with 4:31 to go.
After Krauser’s fourth 3 of the game, Forth’s rebound basket had Syracuse within 64-62 with 35 seconds left. After Troutman made two foul shots, Warrick’s two-handed dunk kept the Orange within a basket.
Troutman, a career 61 percent shooter from the line, has excelled this season, hitting 75 percent in conference play. He made his final two Monday with 11 seconds left and McNamara missed a long 3 at the buzzer as the Panthers celebrated.
The Panthers led 29-28 at halftime, mainly because of their rebounding prowess. They finished the half with a 26-14 edge on the boards, including 10 offensive, and had 13 second-chance points.
Syracuse scored 16 points off the 13 turnovers it forced.