
Pitt Falls to North Carolina 85-67
2/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2017
PITTSBURGH (AP) Michael Young and fellow senior Jamel Artis finished with 17 points each in their final game at the Petersen Events Center, falling to No. 8 North Carolina 85-67 Saturday.
PITTSBURGH (AP) Michael Young and fellow senior Jamel Artis finished with 17 points each in their final game at the Petersen Events Center, falling to No. 8 North Carolina 85-67 Saturday.
Justin Jackson scored 23 points, Joel Berry added 19 and No. 8 North Carolina continued its march to the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title with an 85-67 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The Tar Heels (25-5, 13-3) have won four straight following a loss to arch rival Duke two weeks ago. North Carolina can clinch its second straight ACC regular season crown and 31st overall with a win at No. 18 Virginia on Monday.
Jackson bookended a 10-0 run to end the first half with two deep, contested 3-pointers to give North Carolina all the breathing room it needed. The Tar Heels dominated the smaller Panthers (15-14, 4-12) in the paint, outrebounding Pitt 48-28.
The Panthers took the Tar Heels to the final buzzer in Chapel Hill last month, losing only after Artis' off balance heave fell short. Pitt's four outgoing seniors - Young, Artis, Chris Jones and Sheldon Jeter - came in looking for one last vintage performance in front of the Oakland Zoo to take some of the sting off a disappointing season.
No chance. North Carolina has tightened up defensively since the Blue Devils lit them up on Feb. 9. The Tar Heels held Pitt to 40 percent shooting (19 of 48) and responded immediately whenever the Panthers appeared ready to threaten in the second half.
After a layup by Jones pulled Pitt within 44-36, a 15-5 surge fueled by Berry pushed North Carolina's lead to 59-41. When a free throw by Young trimmed the Panthers' deficit to 62-50 with just under 10 minutes to go, another 12-6 burst capped by a dunk by Jackson gave the Tar Heels a 74-56 lead that turned the final minutes into a somewhat solemn going away party for Young and company.
BIG PICTURE
Pitt: North Carolina outscored Pitt in the paint 42-24 and had 28 second-chance points to just nine by the Panthers.
''It's difficult when they're reaching over your back and getting the balls,'' Pitt senior guard Chris Jones said.
SAYING GOODBYE
The Tar Heels (25-5, 13-3) have won four straight following a loss to arch rival Duke two weeks ago. North Carolina can clinch its second straight ACC regular season crown and 31st overall with a win at No. 18 Virginia on Monday.
Jackson bookended a 10-0 run to end the first half with two deep, contested 3-pointers to give North Carolina all the breathing room it needed. The Tar Heels dominated the smaller Panthers (15-14, 4-12) in the paint, outrebounding Pitt 48-28.
The Panthers took the Tar Heels to the final buzzer in Chapel Hill last month, losing only after Artis' off balance heave fell short. Pitt's four outgoing seniors - Young, Artis, Chris Jones and Sheldon Jeter - came in looking for one last vintage performance in front of the Oakland Zoo to take some of the sting off a disappointing season.
No chance. North Carolina has tightened up defensively since the Blue Devils lit them up on Feb. 9. The Tar Heels held Pitt to 40 percent shooting (19 of 48) and responded immediately whenever the Panthers appeared ready to threaten in the second half.
After a layup by Jones pulled Pitt within 44-36, a 15-5 surge fueled by Berry pushed North Carolina's lead to 59-41. When a free throw by Young trimmed the Panthers' deficit to 62-50 with just under 10 minutes to go, another 12-6 burst capped by a dunk by Jackson gave the Tar Heels a 74-56 lead that turned the final minutes into a somewhat solemn going away party for Young and company.
BIG PICTURE
Pitt: North Carolina outscored Pitt in the paint 42-24 and had 28 second-chance points to just nine by the Panthers.
''It's difficult when they're reaching over your back and getting the balls,'' Pitt senior guard Chris Jones said.
SAYING GOODBYE
It's been a season of change for the Panthers and Stallings, who replaced Jamie Dixon last spring. A familiar face was on hand to watch the four seniors play one last time in front of the Oakland Zoo: Brandin Knight. Knight, a former Pitt star who worked as an assistant under Dixon before eventually taking a job at Rutgers, made a surprise appearance during pregame ceremonies.
''It meant a lot seeing Brandin Knight here tonight,'' Artis said. ''He's got his banner on the wall. You've got to respect that. It means a lot.''
UP NEXT
''It meant a lot seeing Brandin Knight here tonight,'' Artis said. ''He's got his banner on the wall. You've got to respect that. It means a lot.''
UP NEXT
Pitt: Wraps up the regular season with a two-game trip starting Tuesday at Georgia Tech.
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