University of Pittsburgh Athletics
No. 2 Men's Basketball Defeats Georgetown 65-64
1/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
No. 2 Men's Basketball Defeats Georgetown 65-64
1/25/2003
PITTSBURGH - Julius Page hit a free throw with less than a second to play to give No. 2 Pittsburgh a 65-64 victory over Georgetown in an intense Big East Conference classic at the Petersen Events Center. Chevon Troutman scored a game-high 20 points for the Panthers (15-1, 5-0 Big East), who have won six consecutive games since their only loss of the season. Brandin Knight contributed 10 points and five assists in the win.
With the win, Pittsburgh continues its best-ever start to Big East play at 5-0. The Panthers also won their 17th consecutive home game, ninth straight Big East home contest. Pittsburgh is 11-0 in the Petersen Events Center this year.
Brandan Bowman and Tony Bethel each scored 16 points to lead the Hoyas (10-5, 2-3), who have lost three of their last four games. Mike Sweetney, who entered the contest averaging over 20 points a game, was held to just 12 points in the loss.
With Pittsburgh trailing, 56-54, Knight drove hard to the basket and dished off to Troutman, who completed a three-point play to give the Panthers the lead with 3:52 remaining in the second half.
A driving layup by Troutman gave Pitt a 59-56 advantage, but Sweetney scored from the lane with 2:49 to go to pull the Hoyas within one. After a pair of free throws by Knight extended the Panthers' edge to 61-58, Sweetney responded with a basket for Georgetown to make it a one-point game.
With Pitt clinging to a 64-62 lead, the Panthers' Donatas Zavackas missed a pair of free throws. After almost turning the ball over, Bowman took the inbounds pass and was fouled by Zavackas while driving to the basket.
Bowman went to the line with 3.5 seconds remaining and made a pair of free throws to tie the game. Page drove hard at the other end and was fouled underneath with .04 seconds to go. He made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second. The Hoyas were unable to get a good shot off before time expired.
The Panthers trailed, 29-25 at halftime, but opened the second half with a 16-6 run to take the lead. Brown's three-pointer put the Panthers on top, 36-35, for the first time in the contest. Brown's steal at the defensive end led to a three-point play by Troutman that capped the run to give the Panthers a 41-35 lead less than five minutes into the second half.
Knight's bounce pass underneath to Troutman led to another three-point play that put Pitt in front, 48-37, with 12 minutes left in the second half.
The Hoyas responded with an 11-point run, capped by a Gerald Riley three with less than nine minutes to play to tie the game at 48-48. The game remained close the rest of the way.
The Panthers fell behind by as many seven points early in the game and trailed 26-20 late in the opening half, but Carl Krauser hit from three-point range with 2:15 remaining to cut the deficit to three.
Bethel responded with a three-point play to restore the Hoyas' six-point edge and Georgetown held on for a four-point lead at the break. The Panthers made just 7-of-16 free throws in the first half, but hit four three-pointers (4- for-14) to stay close.
The two teams combined for 58 fouls in the contest.
GAME NOTES
*Pittsburgh is on a six-game win streak and 13-game win streak vs. regular season Big East opponents.
*With the win, Pittsburgh improves its home win streak to 17 games and nine-games against Big East Conference opponents. The Panthers improved to 11-0 at home this season.
*At 5-0, Pittsburgh is off to its all-time best league start since it joined the conference in 1982-83. Previously, the best start was a 3-0 record in both 2001-02 and 1991-92.
*Chevon Troutman hit a career-high 10-10 free throws, finished with 20 points on 5-5 field goals in only 17 minutes of action.
*Pittsburgh claimed its fourth victory in its last five games in the series vs. Georgetown.
*The game marked the fifth contest in the series decided by one point. Pittsburgh is 2-3 in those contests. It marked the eighth game in the series decided by either one or two points.
*Pittsburgh held star Georgetown forward Mike Sweetney to 12 points on the day, nine below his 21.9 points per game average. Last week, the Panthers held Carmelo Anthony to 14 points, nine below his average of 23.4 ppg.
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