The Panthers are breathing a sigh of relief after an anxious final second play on Saturday. Fourth ranked Pittsburgh escaped The Pavilion in Pennsylvania with a 57-54 victory over the Villanova Wildcats. The Panthers quieted the Cats in snapping Villanova’s 43-game home winning streak. Villanova rallied to make it a one possession game with one minute to go, but Pittsburgh survived down the stretch to squeeze out the three point win in a Big East battle. The Panthers proved they remain the team to beat in the rugged conference. Pittsburgh owns a 23-2 overall record and is 11-1 in the Big East. Pittsburgh has won six consecutive road games and is poised for a riveting run in the conference finals. ‘Nova dropped to 7-5 after falling at home for the first time since January 2007.
Brad Wanamaker, a Philadelphia native playing for Pittsburgh, led all scorers with 21 points. The Panthers played without Ashton Gibbs, but Pitt’s counter-punchers came up with big baskets in his absence. The Wildcats led 27-24 after the low scoring first half. The home team was also playing without their top starter in Corey Stokes. Villanova’s Mouphtaou Yarou collected eight points and five rebounds in the first eight minutes of the game. Yarou blocked four shots and made Pitt think twice about driving the lane. The Panthers went 0-5 beyond the arc to open the game and finished just 10% from the rainbow. Nasir Robinson had a team high seven buckets for Pitt in the first half while Antonio Pena and Corey Fisher paced the Cats with seven points apiece.
Villanova slowed down to begin second half play. The Cats made just three baskets in fourtheen minutes. Wanamaker gave Pitt their first lead midway through the first half with a three point play at 14:23. The Pittsburgh senior guard converted another three point play with 2:46 after the Wildcats scored eight unanswered points. The Panthers’ offense improved after the intermission, shooting 50% from the field. The game also became more physical, as Fisher and Robinson were called for technicals. The Pittsburgh starters carried the bulk of the load. Jamie Dixon’s bench provided just three points in the victory. Pena hit a three-pointer with 58 seconds left to make it a three point affair.
Wanamaker scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half but committed a key turnover with 27 ticks on the clock. Maalik Wayns was stopped on his way to the basket following a ‘Nova timeout and the home team were forced to attempt a three-pointer with four seconds remaining. Dominick Cheek’s trey caromed off the rim and Maurice Sutton hauled in the rebound. Sutton relayed the ball back to Wayns for one last shot. Wayns sank the three but it was after the buzzer as the Panthers held on to win. Wayns finished with 13 points (obviously not including the key three after time expired).
Parting Points: Ohio State has fallen as many suspected. Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes in Madison to hand the last unbeaten college team their first loss of the season.
Showing posts with label Villanova. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Villanova. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday Take-Twos (Big Battle Basketball Edition)
A pair of big battles highlighted college hoops on Wednesday. The third ranked Villanova Wildcats hosted Big East rival, Notre Dame. The Buckeyes touched up the Hawkeyes in Big 10 ball. Here’s a candid glimpse at the scores and the recaps from the two college clashes.
Villanova remained an unbeaten 8-0 in the Big East after topping Notre Dame 90-72 in Philadelphia. The Fighting Irish dipped to 15-6 and 4-4 in league play despite Luke Harangody’s 21 points in the Wachovia Center loss. The Irish trailed by as many as 23 points and had six turnovers in the first half. Harangody, a candidate for conference player of the year, kept the Irish alive with 16 first half points. The Wildcats led by just one point at the half even with three Notre Dame starters saddled with fouls. There were five lead changes during the first half. Jay Wright’s Wildcats utilized their deep bench to wear down the steady Irish starters. Notre Dame was forced to go to their bench when Harangody, Ben Hansbrough and Ty Nash were charged with two fouls a piece. The Irish made a dismal 19 of 30 from the free throw line
Wildcat staple and clutch shooter, Scottie Reynolds, scored 17 points. Notre Dame held him to just eight points until the fourth quarter. Six foot-one Corey Fisher added 17 and Antonio Pena had 14 points and 10 rebounds in ‘Nova’s 10th straight win. Pena is a presence in the post at 6’8”. He’s also a talented passer who helped the Wildcats make a statement in the second half. The game was a close contest until the Wildcats went on to rout the visiting Irish. Six Wildcats scored at least nine points in the home win. Reynolds keyed the second half scoring when he scored nine straight buckets during an 11-0 Villanova run with four minutes left. The senior guard’s only three pointer of the game put Villanova up 84-67. A grabbing swipe followed the downtown bucket and a hustling Reynolds charted a fast-break layup to increase the lead to 20 points. Maalik Wayns and Taylor King each played twenty minutes off the ‘Nova bench and factored in the victory. Tim Abromaitis contributed 16 points for Notre Dame. The Wildcats are poised to take over the number one ranking a year after advancing to the Final Four. Villanova comes at opponents and they just don’t stop or slow down. Wright’s team is a dangerous and aggressive unit. The Wildcats attack the basket with relentlessness. They are 19-1 for the first time in school history.
The 20th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes did not fall to the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road. Freshman Eric May of Iowa shot a career high 18 points and made five from arc in the 65-57 loss. Ohio State improved to 15-6 overall and 5-3 in the Big 10. The Buckeyes return to Columbus, where they are 12-0 this season, for a three game homestand. David Lighty carried OSU with 20 points in forty minutes. Evan Turner turned in 16 to go along with 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Turner and Lighty helped stave off Iowa’s upset bid in the second half. The two Buckeyes combined for 32 second half points. Jarryd Cole scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds for the Hawkeyes. The Buckeyes struggled from long range in the first half. OSU didn’t hit a 3-pointer until the second half and finished 25% from the arc. Lighty was 3-of-4 from downtown and perfect from the charity stripe.
Ohio State committed just five turnovers and held Iowa’s leading, but injured scorer, Matt Gatens, to six points. Carver-Hawkeye Arena was expecting an upset and on the verge of experiencing one on Wednesday. Turner showed up late to rescue the road victory for the Buckeyes. The best player in the conference and arguable best in the game helped Ohio State pull away in the second half 45-32. Iowa’s reserve center, Andrew Brommer, nailed a pair of free throws with seven seconds before the break to spur the Hawkeyes and expand their first half lead. The Buckeyes trailed by five at the half but the 6’7” Chicago forward won the game down the stretch for Ohio State. May mauled Ohio State and made it a five point Hawkeye lead again with less than five minutes in regulation. Ohio State went on a 12-0 scoring burst that was capped off by Turner’s jumper as the clock closed in on the one minute mark. May’s trey with 46 seconds left trimmed the OSU lead to four before the Buckeyes put the game out of reach at the line. Six free throws and a Turner steal quelled the upset and sealed the win for Thad Matta and the belligerent Buckeyes.
Parting Points: Parting song- “Runaway” by the Corrs
“That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.”- Catcher in the Rye (RIP J.D. Salinger)
Villanova remained an unbeaten 8-0 in the Big East after topping Notre Dame 90-72 in Philadelphia. The Fighting Irish dipped to 15-6 and 4-4 in league play despite Luke Harangody’s 21 points in the Wachovia Center loss. The Irish trailed by as many as 23 points and had six turnovers in the first half. Harangody, a candidate for conference player of the year, kept the Irish alive with 16 first half points. The Wildcats led by just one point at the half even with three Notre Dame starters saddled with fouls. There were five lead changes during the first half. Jay Wright’s Wildcats utilized their deep bench to wear down the steady Irish starters. Notre Dame was forced to go to their bench when Harangody, Ben Hansbrough and Ty Nash were charged with two fouls a piece. The Irish made a dismal 19 of 30 from the free throw line
Wildcat staple and clutch shooter, Scottie Reynolds, scored 17 points. Notre Dame held him to just eight points until the fourth quarter. Six foot-one Corey Fisher added 17 and Antonio Pena had 14 points and 10 rebounds in ‘Nova’s 10th straight win. Pena is a presence in the post at 6’8”. He’s also a talented passer who helped the Wildcats make a statement in the second half. The game was a close contest until the Wildcats went on to rout the visiting Irish. Six Wildcats scored at least nine points in the home win. Reynolds keyed the second half scoring when he scored nine straight buckets during an 11-0 Villanova run with four minutes left. The senior guard’s only three pointer of the game put Villanova up 84-67. A grabbing swipe followed the downtown bucket and a hustling Reynolds charted a fast-break layup to increase the lead to 20 points. Maalik Wayns and Taylor King each played twenty minutes off the ‘Nova bench and factored in the victory. Tim Abromaitis contributed 16 points for Notre Dame. The Wildcats are poised to take over the number one ranking a year after advancing to the Final Four. Villanova comes at opponents and they just don’t stop or slow down. Wright’s team is a dangerous and aggressive unit. The Wildcats attack the basket with relentlessness. They are 19-1 for the first time in school history.
The 20th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes did not fall to the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road. Freshman Eric May of Iowa shot a career high 18 points and made five from arc in the 65-57 loss. Ohio State improved to 15-6 overall and 5-3 in the Big 10. The Buckeyes return to Columbus, where they are 12-0 this season, for a three game homestand. David Lighty carried OSU with 20 points in forty minutes. Evan Turner turned in 16 to go along with 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Turner and Lighty helped stave off Iowa’s upset bid in the second half. The two Buckeyes combined for 32 second half points. Jarryd Cole scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds for the Hawkeyes. The Buckeyes struggled from long range in the first half. OSU didn’t hit a 3-pointer until the second half and finished 25% from the arc. Lighty was 3-of-4 from downtown and perfect from the charity stripe.
Ohio State committed just five turnovers and held Iowa’s leading, but injured scorer, Matt Gatens, to six points. Carver-Hawkeye Arena was expecting an upset and on the verge of experiencing one on Wednesday. Turner showed up late to rescue the road victory for the Buckeyes. The best player in the conference and arguable best in the game helped Ohio State pull away in the second half 45-32. Iowa’s reserve center, Andrew Brommer, nailed a pair of free throws with seven seconds before the break to spur the Hawkeyes and expand their first half lead. The Buckeyes trailed by five at the half but the 6’7” Chicago forward won the game down the stretch for Ohio State. May mauled Ohio State and made it a five point Hawkeye lead again with less than five minutes in regulation. Ohio State went on a 12-0 scoring burst that was capped off by Turner’s jumper as the clock closed in on the one minute mark. May’s trey with 46 seconds left trimmed the OSU lead to four before the Buckeyes put the game out of reach at the line. Six free throws and a Turner steal quelled the upset and sealed the win for Thad Matta and the belligerent Buckeyes.
Parting Points: Parting song- “Runaway” by the Corrs
“That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.”- Catcher in the Rye (RIP J.D. Salinger)
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