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'Hungry' Panthers wear down Villanova
PITTSBURGH - The first time Pitt played Villanova, the Panthers' new-look lineup made its road debut. Four freshmen occupied spots among the top eight in the rotation and, despite a last-second loss, the Panthers looked lost without regulars Levance Fields and Mike Cook.
Six games later, Villanova made the trip to Petersen Events Center against No. 18 Pitt, with the Panthers still stinging after a second-half collapse against Rutgers led to the most confounding home loss since the building opened for the start of the 2002-03 season.
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"I know we're a better team and our four freshmen are all better players. That's what I anticipated," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "We got very good play from all eight of our guys. I thought all eight were key."
Several Panthers proved vital after a 9-0 run by Villanova gave the Wildcats their first lead, 38-37, with 13:39 remaining.
Tyrell Biggs started a 22-3 run with a free throw to tie the score before Sam Young shook off a prolonged shooting slump to ignite Pitt (5-3, 17-4), part of logjam for third place in the conference.
Young gave Pitt a 40-38 lead on a leaner and the Panthers continued the surge. Ronald Ramon hit a long three-pointer. An unusually active Biggs scored seven points during the stretch.
"We played a hungry team. They did a great job," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "Their effort kind of wore us down with (DeJuan) Blair up front and Biggs on the offensive glass. That's what good teams do."
Biggs' 14 points were a career-high in a conference game and he earned most of them inside or at the foul line. He rolled toward the basket and was rewarded often with passes from Keith Benjamin, who finished with a career-high seven assists as he handled point-guard duties during most of the run for the foul-troubled Ramon.
"With (Ramon) in foul trouble, I had to elevate my game as the game went along," Benjamin said. "We just had to stick together. We knew they'd make a run. We had to stay together. Stay tough and stay with the defense."
Pitt also stayed away from sloppy play that plagued its loss at Villanova (13-6, 3-5) and also the first half, when 12 turnovers kept the game close.
The Panthers also played strong defense, blocking a season-high eight shots and limiting the Wildcats to 23 of 63 shooting (36.5 percent), despite 26 points from Scottie Reynolds. Young had four of those blocks - another career high - with the last one providing one of the acrobatic forwards best highlights.
Shortly after Young made a three-pointer to put Pitt ahead, 54-41, he stepped out to challenge a Corey Stokes jumper, blocked the shot and created his own fast-break opportunity. Young (15 points, eight rebounds) finished the play with a tomahawk dunk and a free throw after a foul.
After the three-pointer and the dunk, the normally reserved Young did some celebrating.
"In the first half, I didn't really have a feel for the game. The second half, I tried to bring a lot of intensity," Young said. "After the block and the three, I felt like I was kind of coming out of my slump. I thought if I can bring a little a intensity to the team, we could overcome Villanova."
Now, Pitt hopes it can overcome its up-and-down play. The Panthers have traded wins and losses the last four games as they head to Connecticut Saturday.
"When we played them the last time, you could tell they were finding their way with their injuries," Wright said. "Benjamin has stepped up big-time at the two-guard and Ramon is so solid, he's running the show like (Fields) has never been here."
