Stretch of futility proves costly
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J.J. Moore, left, and Lamar Patterson look on during Pitt's game against Seton Hall Sunday in Newark, N.J. Seton Hall won the Big East contest, 73-66.
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NEWARK, N.J. -- A victory the Pitt Panthers had to have Sunday afternoon at Seton Hall was almost in the bag, but an eight-minute stretch of futility led to a devastating loss that vaporized any realistic chances they had of making the NCAA tournament.
Seton Hall used a late 10-0 run to turn the tide and handed Pitt a 73-66 loss at the Prudential Center. The Panthers were outscored, 18-5, in the final eight minutes. They made just one field goal in that stretch, committed two crucial turnovers and watched Pirates make big play after big play to steal the win.
Now, after a promising four-game winning streak that reignited hopes of an 11th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the Panthers have to win all five of their remaining games in the regular season just to reach .500 in Big East play.
"We put ourselves in a position where we have to play at a high, high level and not let any game get away, and this one got away from us," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said.
- Game: Pitt vs. West Virginia.
- When: 9 p.m. Thursday.
- Where: Petersen Events Center.
- TV: ESPN.
Pitt (15-11, 4-9) had a 61-55 lead with 8:12 remaining after falling behind by 12 points in the first half. Tray Woodall had a wide open look at a 3-pointer with 7:30 remaining, but he missed. From there, it was all Seton Hall.
The Pirates (17-8, 6-7) were 6 for 11 from the field in the final 6:43, including clutch consecutive 3-pointers from Jordan Theodore and Haralds Karlis that turned a one-point deficit into a four-point lead in the span of 35 seconds.
Theodore's shot, with 5:17 remaining, came off a broken play at the end of the shot clock after the Panthers had played good defense for 34 seconds of that possession.
"I thought the big play was Theodore at the end of the clock," Dixon said. "That was the big play down the stretch. That gave them the lead. He made a big shot."
First Published February 13, 2012 12:00 am
