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Wednesday, February 19, 2003

By Kathy Orton, Special to the Post-Gazette

WASHINGTON -- Perhaps the biggest benefit to come out of No. 9 Pittsburgh being stuck in Washington an extra day was that Brandin Knight was able to go through a full practice for the first time in nearly a month.

	Brandin Knight slices between Georgetown defenders Victor Samnick, left, and Mike Sweetney in the first half at the MCI Center in Washington last night. Knight scored a season-high 23 points. (Nick Wass, Associated Press)

With Knight back to nearly full strength from his left ankle injury, the Panthers ended their three-game road losing streak by beating Georgetown, 82-67, in a Big East Conference game last night before 7,242 at MCI Center. Knight scored a season-high 23 points to help Pitt hand the Hoyas (11-11, 3-8 Big East) their most lopsided loss of the season.

Pitt's victory combined with wins by Syracuse and Notre Dame kept the Panthers (18-4, 8-3) tied with the Irish (20-5, 8-3) in second place in the West Division behind the first-place Orangemen (18-4, 9-3).

This game was originally scheduled for Monday night but was moved to last night because of the winter storm that paralyzed the Washington area for two days. Pitt had taken a bus down to Washington after its loss Saturday at Seton Hall, so the Panthers spent three days waiting at their hotel to play.

On Monday, after learning the game was postponed, Pitt Coach Ben Howland decided to put his team through a full practice. Although the players and coaches had to push the bus at one point in order to make it to the arena, the Panthers' extra effort was rewarded.

"We had a very good practice and it showed in how we played," Howland said. "The practice paid off for us."

It really paid off for Knight. Since his left ankle was sprained in practice before the Feb. 1 Syracuse game, Knight hadn't scored above 11 points and had scored in double figures in just two of the Panthers' past five games. He had 10 points before halftime against Georgetown and finished 7 of 12 from the field. He made all six of his free throw attempts.

"Getting a chance to get some extra shooting in, some practice time [helped]," Knight said. "This is the first time I really got a chance to practice and be healthy. I played well tonight. I think that's the result of getting healthy."

Howland predicted that Knight would be playing some of his best basketball about this time in the season. He knew it would take Knight this long to recover from his off-season arthroscopic knee surgery. Knight's ankle injury earlier this month delayed his progress.

"Brandin is finally now to where he's getting back his normal rhythm," Howland said. "I'm not surprised at all. I expect this to continue."

Pitt trailed most of the first half until Carl Krauser sank a 3-pointer that gave the Panthers a 22-20 lead. After Pittsburgh took the lead, the score was tied four times and the lead changed hands six times before halftime.

The Panthers scored seven consecutive points to start the second half but weren't able to pull away because they turned the ball over seven times in the first 6 1/2 minutes. Georgetown countered Pitt's scoring surge with a 9-0 run that gave the Hoyas a 42-40 lead.

Donatas Zavackas put Pittsburgh back in front by sinking a 3-pointer with 12 minutes remaining. Georgetown never held the lead again.

Zavackas, who was replaced in the starting lineup by Chevon Troutman but started the second half, made 3 of 4 shots from behind the 3-point arc to finish with 17 points. He also made all four of his free throw attempts.

Pitt's strong shooting held off Georgetown. The Panthers connected on 12 of 16 field goal attempts (75 percent), including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. They were particularly effective from the free-throw line, making 21 of 23 attempts in the second half and 24 of 29 overall.

"We really improved our foul shooting since the 14-for-29 debacle at Syracuse that cost us the game probably," Howland said. "I think that was really the turning point."

"We've just been concentrating more," said Julius Page, who went 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. "A couple close games we've been in it was because we didn't make our free throws. Everybody on our team can make them. It's just a matter of focus."