Pitt avoids another upset
PITTSBURGH – Mike Cook scored a game-high 15 points for seventh-ranked Pitt, which avoided being upset for the second consecutive game with a 65-61 non-conference win over Washington Saturday at the Petersen Events Center. Levance Fields scored 14 points, including 8 of 8 from the foul line, and was one of four Panthers to score in double-figures.
“I was kidding before the game that I wasn’t getting to the free throw line enough,” Fields said. “I felt I needed to get to the line more and tonight I was able to get there and then execute.
“With the Pac-10 being one of the top conferences, we wanted to send them a message by turning up the intensity on “D” and make them try to do some things they usually don’t do and it worked. We felt last game we had too many unforced turnovers and we didn’t want that to affect us tonight.”
The Panthers (23-4) overcame another low-scoring performance, and shot only 36 percent from the field, including only 27 percent from three-point range.
“We were one of the best-shooting percentage teams in the country but we haven’t shown that the past two games,” Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said. “I thought we created good looks but didn’t capitalize on some lay-ups and easier shots, so we need to pick it up in that area.”
The Panthers were also out-rebounded by 10 (42-32), but made up for it on defense by forcing 16 Huskie turnovers.
“We knew they were a good rebounding team because they’re in the top-five in the country, but getting out-rebounded by 10 is just something we can’t have,” Dixon said.
“We did cause a lot of turnovers by having our guards sag down more on their big men and force them to put the ball on the floor.”
After trailing for most of the first 15 minutes of the first half, Pitt caused four turnovers in four consecutive Washington possessions which helped the Panthers re-take the lead.
Sam Young’s baseline jumper with 3:34 left gave Pitt a 24-23 lead and the Panthers held a 31-28 lead at the half. Young had 10 points and was also joined in the double-figure scoring column with Ronald Ramon, who added 11 including 4-4 from the free throw line.
Aaron Gray, Pitt’s leading scorer, only had two points at the half and finished with a season-tying low five points for the game. He did surpass the 1,000-point mark during the game.
Gray also had only four rebounds, but his biggest board came with 13 seconds left. He grabbed a defensive board with Pitt up five points to help preserve the win. He came down hard on the play though, and twisted his ankle. His status for Monday night’s game against Seton Hall is not determined yet.
“It looked pretty bad (Gray’s fall) when it happened,” Dixon said. “I was glad he got up and walked off the court but we’ll just have to see Monday how he feels.”
In Gray’s offensive absence, Mike Cook led the Panthers with 15 points.
“When our star (Gray) is not scoring you need somebody else to step up,” Cook said. “Aaron (Gray) doesn’t force the ball. He’s unselfish. He always steps up and helps us when we’re struggling and tonight we stepped up and helped him.”
Pitt has not faced Washington (16-10) since 1950 but Dixon was glad the two were able to face each other this year.
“This game all came about when we were looking for top 20 teams to play non-conference,” Dixon said. “This is one of the most-winningest programs over the past few years.”
Washington has not beat a top-ten team on the road since 1974. Head coach Lorenzo Romar felt Pitt’s free throws (19-25) and points off turnovers (21) were the keys to the game.
“They scored two-thirds of their points from the free throw line and off turnovers,” Romar said. “Pitt is not atop the Big East for no reason and I think they are similar to UCLA for obvious reasons.”
Pitt will return to Big East play Monday when they travel to Seton Hall. The Panthers have now slipped into a tie for first place at 10-2 with Georgetown who won in the last minute at Villanova yesterday.