Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Connecticut's Charlie Villanueva tries to knock away a shot by Pitt guard Carl Krauser in yesterday's action. Click photo for larger image. More Pitt Coverage: Cook: Disappearing act costs Pitt NEXT Who: Pitt at Boston College When: 7 p.m. tomorrow Where: Silvio O. Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass. TV: ESPN

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon took the microphone to address the crowd for senior day ceremonies after Pitt lost to Connecticut yesterday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center. And before he could start talking about Chevon Troutman and Mark McCarroll, many of the fans who remained began to boo him.

"This is tough," Dixon said a few minutes after another late collapse saw the Huskies come away with a 73-64 victory. "I wanted this to be a happier occasion. But don't take anything away from their five years here. We've had some struggles. We're not done. We're going to stay with it."

It was Pitt's third consecutive loss and dropped the Panthers into sixth place in the Big East standings with two regular-season games remaining. Their NCAA hopes could hinge on games at Boston College and at Notre Dame. The Panthers (18-7, 8-6) probably need to win at least two more games between now and the end of the Big East tournament to make the NCAA tournament.

This is Pitt's first three-game losing streak since February 2001. Yesterday's loss was Pitt's fourth home loss in the past nine games. The Panthers had won 43 of the first 44 games played at the Petersen Events Center.

"Every team goes through it," said Troutman, who led Pitt with 22 points and 12 rebounds. "This is the first time Pittsburgh has experienced it since our success. A lot of other teams would be grateful to be in our position. This isn't what we expected. But you have to deal with what you have."

Pitt struggled in the closing minutes for the second consecutive game. After getting outscored, 28-10, over the final nine-plus minutes of Wednesday's loss to West Virginia, the Panthers watched Connecticut score 11 of the final 12 points yesterday.

The Panthers did not make a field goal in the final four minutes, missed their last four shots from the field, three of four free-throw attempts and committed a turnover.

"Down the stretch is what's killing us," Troutman said. "We have to find a way of correcting that. We know we can do it. It's just a matter of doing it."

Troutman had a chance to give Pitt the lead with 2:58 remaining, but he missed two free throws. It was an appropriate ending for the Panthers, who were 14 for 29 from the free-throw line. Any shot taken outside the lane was an adventure. They were 4 for 22 from 3-point range as well.

"We wanted to play better than we did today," Dixon said. "[The free throws] played a big part. We had situations where it hurt us. Free throws in a close game are important. We had to knock down more."

After Troutman's missed free throws, things quickly disintegrated. Connecticut scored six consecutive points in 50 seconds to seize control, silencing a raucous crowd that had seen Pitt storm back after trailing by seven points with less than seven minutes remaining.

Josh Boone scored over Chris Taft, freshman Rudy Gay stole a Ronald Ramon pass and scored on a layup, and Denham Brown made two free throws. And, suddenly, it was over.

Connecticut beat Pitt at its own game. The Huskies owned the glass, outrebounding the Panthers, 41-35. In the second half, 22 of their 42 points came in the lane. Pitt, by contrast, had just 12 points in the lane after halftime.

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun made mention of his team hanging with Pitt down low and referenced a Dixon quote that the Panthers held an edge over the Huskies in the post.

"I don't think that edge was there in the second half," Calhoun said. "I think he thinks that they're the more physical and tougher team, and that wasn't there in the second half."

Calhoun apparently fabricated the quote. Dixon said he never uttered those words.

No matter. Pitt getting beat at its own game was a fact.

For the past three seasons, Pitt's modus operandi was to physically wear down opponents and find a way to win at the end. Pitt is having trouble doing either now.

"I don't want to say that we don't have guys who know how to win," point guard Carl Krauser said. "But we have young guys who don't know how to close out games. Once you become a leader, you close out games. We have a young team. We have to keep talking to them about closing out big games."

It better happen fast. Time is running out.

NOTES -- Krauser had 21 points, 7 assists, 4 steals and 2 turnovers but was 2 for 12 from 3-point range. ... Connecticut had four players in double figures: Gay (17), Brown (16), Charlie Villanueva (14) and Marcus Williams (13). ... Connecticut won its seventh consecutive Big East game and is one game behind Boston College for first place in the Big East. ... Pitt football coach Dave Wannstedt played host to 68 high school juniors who were on a recruiting visit this weekend.