Pitt Ends Orange Winning Streak

Saturday, January 2

Syracuse, NY

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

University of Pittsburgh

Wes Johnson led the Orange in scoring for the fifth time this season with 19 points against Pitt.

1/2/2010 2:18:28 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score | Player Quotes | Coach Boeheim Quotes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Pitt (12-2, 2-0) handed #5/5 Syracuse (13-1, 1-1) its first loss of the season, 82-72, on Saturday, Jan. 2 in the BIG EAST home opener for the Orange. The defeat ended Syracuse's 13-game winning streak to start the year and was its seventh straight regular-season loss to the Panthers.

The Panthers' 3-point and free-throw shooting helped decide the game. Pitt hit 10 treys to just one for Syracuse and finished the game 10-of-24 (44.2 pct.) from behind the arc. The Panthers also converted 26-of-36 (72.2 pct.) free throws, including 24-of-32 (75.0 pct.) in the second half.

Junior Wes Johnson scored in double figures for the 13th time this season and paced the Orange with 19 points. He also had six rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Scoop Jardine chipped in 15 points, including 13 in the second half. Sophomore Kris Joseph rounded out SU's double-digit scorers with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Syracuse led 6-0 three minutes into the game before four straight points by Pitt's Jermaine Dixon got the Panthers on the scoreboard. Dixon scored Pitt's first seven points of the contest and the two teams were tied, 10-10, with 12:36 left in the first half following an Ashton Gibbs 3-pointer.

The Orange responded with a 10-0 run to claim a 20-10 advantage with 7:49 remaining in the opening stanza. Senior Arinze Onuaku had four points in the scoring spurt. Meanwhile, the Syracuse zone held Pitt scoreless for a span of 4:57 before another Gibbs three at the 7:33 mark ended the Panthers' scoring drought and made the score 20-13 Syracuse.

After a pair of free throws by senior Andy Rautins, the Orange led by eight, 26-18, with 4:32 to go in the opening half, but seven straight Panther points trimmed the lead to 26-25. A dunk by Joseph ended the Pitt run and Syracuse led 30-27 at halftime.

Dixon converted another Pitt three 1:24 into the second half to tie the game at 32-32 and ignite a 16-4 run that resulted in a 45-36 Panther lead. Six straight SU points, including four by Johnson, cut the Pitt advantage to 45-42 with 12:33 to go in regulation.

That was as close as Syracuse got the rest of the way as Pitt's prowess at the free-throw line keyed a 15-5 run that gave the Panthers a 13-point margin, 60-47, with 8:33 to play. The Panthers were 7-for-8 from the charity stripe during the stretch.

Pitt led by as many as 15, 78-63, with 1:42 left, but the Orange tallied nine of the game's final 13 points to produce the final score.

Gibbs led the Panthers with a game-high 24 points. Six of his seven field goals were 3-pointers. He also pulled down eight rebounds. Dixon tallied 21 points, including three triples, and had five steals. The duo combined for Pitt's first 20 points in the contest and 23 of the Panthers' 27 first-half points. The only other Pitt player with a basket in the opening half was Dante Taylor.

Syracuse was 28-of-66 (42.4 pct.) from the field Saturday, including 1-for-13 (7.7 pct.) from 3-point range. The Orange missed all seven of its 3-point attempts in the second half.

The Orange will look to get back on the winning track Wednesday, Jan. 6 at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse will host Memphis at 7 p.m. in its final non-conference game of the year. The matchup will be televised live on ESPN2.