Post-Game Quotesheet

Jan. 24, 2008

PITT-ST. JOHN'S POST-GAME NOTES

*Pitt improved to 16-3 overall and 4-2 in Big East Conference play. Pitt's next game (vs. Rutgers on Jan. 26) marks its 100^th all-time contest in the Petersen Events Center.

*The game marked Pitt's fourth Big East Conference road contest of the season. Pitt improved to 2-2 on the year in Big East road games and to 4-3 on the road this season. In his five seasons as head coach, Jamie Dixon has accumulated a 22-14 road record in Big East Conference regular season play (2-2 in 2007-08, 6-2 in 2006-07, 3-5 in 2005-06, 5-3 in 2004-05 and 6-2 in 2003-04). Since Dixon became head coach in 2003-04, Pitt has never lost a Big East regular season road game by more than eight points. His 14 losses have come by an average of 3.9 points per loss (55 points/14 losses). Pitt improved to 12-6 over the last two seasons on the road.

*With his team-high 26 points this evening, Sam Young scored over 20 points for the eighth time this season and 10^th time in his career. He reached double figure scoring for the 18th time in 19 games this season and 46^th time in his career. He has now notched double figure scoring games in 26 of his last 30 games played. Young tied a career-high with 10 field goals made. Young has scored 20 or more points in four of Pitt's last five games played.

*Keith Benjamin tied a career-high with three steals on the evening.

*With his 16 points today, Ronald Ramon reached double figure scoring for the 43^rd time in his career. Ramon set or tied career-highs for free throws made (7) and free throw attempts (9). Ramon finished the day with five assists and one turnover. Since Levance Fields and Mike Cook were sidelined with injuries, Ramon has registered 45 assists and 14 turnovers, an outstanding 3.21 assist:turnover ratio.

*With his 10 points on the evening, DeJuan Blair reached double figure scoring for the 13^th time on the year.

*Pitt's senior trio of Ronald Ramon, Keith Benjamin and Mike Cook won their 90^th career game today. The trio improved to 90-28 overall and currently ranks fifth on the all-time winningest senior class list with a .762 winning percentage.

*Pitt improved to 5-2 without Levance Fields and Mike Cook. In those seven games, Pitt has shot 50.2 percent (195-388) and 45.5 percent (51-112) from 3-point range.

*Pitt avoided losing a second consecutive game. In Jamie Dixon's 154-game career as head coach, Pitt has only lost two consecutive games on five occasions and three consecutive games only once.

*"With his 121^st career win, Jamie Dixon improved to ninth place on the NCAA Division I all-time top coaching starts after five seasons. He needs one more win to tie for sixth place on the list at 122 wins with Jerry Tarkanian, Long Beach State/UNLV; Jim Boeheim, Syracuse; Thad Matta, Ohio State/Xavier.

*Pitt hit 54.5 percent (30-55) of its field goal attempts. Pitt has now shot over 50 percent in eight of its 19 games this year.

*The win improved Jamie Dixon to 121-33 overall as head coach. Dixon improved to 49-21 in Big East regular season games.

*Pitt improved to 18-33 in its 51-game series against St. John's. It also improved to 5-17 overall in its games played against St. John's in New York. Pitt snapped a three-game losing streak to St. John's at Madison Square Garden. Additionally, Pitt had not defeated St. John's in five consecutive games and since March 3, 1996.

*Pitt won its second consecutive game at Madison Square Garden. It defeated Duke 65-64 in overtime on Dec. 20, 2007. Pitt improved to 19-8 at Madison Square Garden since the 2000-01 season.

*Pitt yielded just 57 points to St. John's on the day. It has limited 16 of its 19 opponents to 70 points or less. Furthermore, since Jamie Dixon became head coach Pitt has held 128 of its 154 opponents under 70 points. Additionally, it has held 57 of its last 70 Big East opponents under 70 points.

University of Pittsburgh Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Keith Benjamin

Keith Benjamin

DeJuan Blair

Mike Cook

Levance Fields

Ronald Ramon

Sam Young

Related Videos