Suddenly hot Pitt wins third straight

[BlackNGoldRules]

Suddenly hot Pitt wins third straight

Monday, January 30, 2012
By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Pitt defeated West Virginia, 72-66, tonight at WVU Coliseum. It is the third consecutive victory for the Panthers, who had lost eight in a row.

Tray Woodall led Pitt (14-9, 3-7) with 24 points. Ashton Gibbs added 15.

Kevin Jones led West Virginia (15-8, 5-5) with 21 points.

Pitt led 33-29 at halftime. The Panthers got off to a slow start, but they took their first lead of the game when Woodall made a 3-pointer with 2:43 remaining in the half. Woodall scored 11 of Pitt's final 15 points of the half, including another 3-pointer just before the buzzer. He scored 13 of his first-half points in the final 6:32 of the half.

West Virginia jumped out to a 17-9 lead, but the Mountaineers could not build on their lead because of some careless play. They had seven turnovers in the half and lost an opportunity to take a bigger lead because the Panthers shot 30 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes of the game.

By halftime, Pitt had its percentage up to 50 percent, thanks largely to Woodall. The Mountaineers shot 45 percent in the half.

The Panthers opened the second half on an 8-2 run. They scored four of those points on one possession when Dante Taylor converted a 3-point play, and Ashton Gibbs converted one of two free throws after West Virginia coach Bob Huggins was whistled for a technical foul.

That sequence led to a 41-31 lead with 17:40 remaining. West Virginia came back to cut the lead to two twice in the final 8:13, but the Panthers never allowed the Mountaineers to tie or take the lead. Jones had an opportunity to give the Mountaineers a lead, but he air-balled a 3-point attempt with six minutes to go.

Ray Fittipaldo: rfttipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First published on January 30, 2012 at 9:19 pm

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12030...#ixzz1l0iSaw2z

[ManO'Steel]

Interesting... Looks like we have something to cheer about after all.

[Palmetto Steel]

After an 0-7 start, they've won 4 in a row with this 79-70 victory over Villanova today...

... It all is due to Woodall's return, and I'll take it.... Who knows, if they keep it going, they might make the "Big Dance" afterall...

[BlackNGoldRules]

After an 0-7 start, they've won 4 in a row with this 79-70 victory over Villanova today...

... It all is due to Woodall's return, and I'll take it.... Who knows, if they keep it going, they might make the "Big Dance" afterall...

Woodall playing the 1 has made a big difference, not just because of his own production, but it's allowed the rest of the team to play to their own strengths. Gibbs playing shooting guard is where he plays best. He had trouble running the show out there when Woodall was out. This team could very well make the dance considering their schedule down the stretch isn't very tough.

[Palmetto Steel]

Gibbs playing shooting guard is where he plays best.

Agreed... He is not a true "point guard", as you said... And it showed...

... I cringed each time Woodall took a hard hit today (several times)... He needs to be healthy for this team to do well.

[Steelreign]

Woodall playing the 1 has made a big difference, not just because of his own production, but it's allowed the rest of the team to play to their own strengths. Gibbs playing shooting guard is where he plays best. He had trouble running the show out there when Woodall was out. This team could very well make the dance considering their schedule down the stretch isn't very tough.

I totally forgot that the game was on today, but it is sweet they won their 4th in a row. each win should help their confidence grow, but at least the team stayed together through their skid.