'Nova squeaks by Pitt

By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine

A pair of Dante Cunningham free throws with just 10.3 seconds remaining lifted 17th-ranked Villanova over No. 13 Pittsburgh, 64-63, at the Pavilion.

With the Wildcats (11-2, 1-1 Big East) trailing by a point, Scottie Reynolds looked like he had an open look at a three, but the Panthers (12-2, 0-1) defense quickly closed out and the guard found Cunningham under the basket. The big man was fouled and calmly went to the line to hit both attempts, giving 'Nova the 64-63 edge.

Pitt had no timeouts left and Ronald Ramon rushed up the floor but lost his dribble, resulting in a turnover and securing the game for Villanova.

Malcolm Grant came off the bench to score 22 points for the Wildcats, who have won seven of their past eight games. Antonio Pena added 12 points and three steals, while Reynolds, the team's leading scorer, has just four points on 1- of-6 shooting.

Sam Young had a game-high 16 points for the Panthers, who have not won at Villanova since 1994. Keith Benjamin finished with 15 points before fouling out, and DeJuan Blair had 12 points and 15 rebounds.

The teams were even at 30 entering the final frame, but Pitt came out of the locker room with more energy in the opening minutes and reeled off an 11-4 run. Benjamin's bank shot from the left wing put the Panthers on top 41-34 with 15:41 remaining in the game.

Villanova answered over the next several minutes. Pena deposited a conventional three-point play to deadlock things at 45 with 11:44 left on the clock.

The Wildcats finally eased ahead when Reynolds dropped in his first and only bucket of the game, a spinning fade away that gave 'Nova a 52-49 advantage with just under eight minutes to go.

An NBA-distanced three by Grant extended the Wildcats lead to six, 55-49, with 6:22 left.

Pitt tightened it again, however. Ramon drilled a three from deep in the left corner to draw the Panthers within a point, 60-59, with 2:56 remaining. Moments later, a Gilbert Brown putback sent Pitt back on top.

The teams went on the see-saw from there. First, Reynolds hit a pair of free throws to put the Wildcats back in front, but then Blair responded with a nice shovel shot to make it 63-62 Pittsburgh with 1:36 on the clock.

Both teams struggled mightily on the offensive end in the opening minutes before Pitt managed to take a measure of control with an 8-0 flurry midway through the opening frame. Young capped the mini-run with a layup and a pair of free throws to give the Panthers a 19-12 edge with 8:20 left.

Trailing 24-16, the Wildcats finally found some offense when Grant finished a 10-0 burst with a long three from the top of the circle to put Villanova in front, 26-24, with 2:34 left in the half.

Benjamin buried a three of his own to cap the scoring in the half with the game deadlocked at 30.