PITTSBURGH, Pa. – #4/4 Pittsburgh (17-1, 5-1) converted 10 of its last 12 shots and outscored #8/8 Syracuse (17-3, 5-2) 25-14 during the span to secure a 78-60 victory in a BIG EAST Conference matchup at the Petersen Events Center.
Junior Andy Rautins led the Orange with 17 points while sophomore Jonny Flynn tallied 12 points, 10 of which came in the second half. Junior Arinze Onuaku was the leading rebounder with nine boards. The contest marked the third straight encounter against a nationally-ranked foe for Syracuse.
Sophomore forward Rick Jackson had given Syracuse it's only lead of the contest by connecting in the lane to put the Orange up 35-33 less than two minutes into the second half. The Panthers retaliated with nine straight points, including five from Sam Young, and never trailed again.
Rautins and fellow junior Eric Devendorf, aided by five-straight missed shots by Pittsburgh, cut off their opponent's run with back-to-back fastbreak three-pointers. The advantage was cut to seven, 53-46, but three-pointers from Pitt's Levance Fields and Young, plus a layup from Nasir Robinson, stifled whatever momentum the Orange had begun to build as the Panther lead went back into double-figures, 61-48.
Syracuse entered the game shooting a conference-best .508 percentage, was held to only (23-of-55) in the game. Pittsburgh converted .533 of its shots, including a stellar .594 mark in the second half. The Panthers outscored the Orange in the paint, 44-26 and also had a commanding rebound advantage, 40-28.
SU trailed by nine, 25-16, with 5:53 left in the first half. Two three-pointers by Rautins, sandwiched around dunks from Jackson and junior Paul Harris, and a layup from Onuaku, keyed a 11-2 run that pushed Syracuse in front, 28-27. Pittsburgh edged back in front and led 31-28 at the break.
Syracuse returns to action against #9/12 Louisville on January 25 at the Dome. Action with the Cardinals begins at Noon. Tickets can be purchased online at SUathletics.com, by phone at 1-800-DomeTIX or in person at the Dome during regular business hours.