Pitt loses on road
VILLANOVA — Pittsburgh had run the play twice before in big situations and it worked both times. On Sunday, the Panthers' chance to win their Big East opener became another turnover in a game filled with them.
Dante Cunningham made two free throws with 10 seconds left and No. 17 Villanova then forced that final turnover by No. 13 Pittsburgh for a 64-63 victory.
"We ran that play for the win over Duke and we ran it at the end of the first half today and it worked both times," Pitt guard Keith Benjamin said. "The other times nobody hedged hard. Villanova did that time and we lost the ball."
The turnover was the 22nd of the game for the Panthers, matching their season high in the overtime win over Duke. They came into the game averaging 12.9.
"Twenty-two turnovers means 22 shots you didn't get the chance to take," Benjamin said. "That's what makes is so hard that this one got away from us."
It didn't matter that because of injuries Pittsburgh used only seven players and six of them went at least 23 minutes.
"We didn't get tired. We battled," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said.
Freshman Malcolm Grant had a season-high 22 points for the Wildcats (11-2, 1-1), who took advantage of their depth against the Panthers (12-2, 0-1).
DeJuan Blair scored on a flip in the lane with 1:36 left to give Pittsburgh a 63-62 lead. Both teams failed to score on their next possessions. Grant took a wild shot for Villanova with 15 seconds left but the Wildcats retained possession when there was a held ball on the rebound.
"Oh, it was so bad I couldn't even get the ball up, really," Grant said, referring to his cramps in both legs late in the game. "I didn't want to come out but I couldn't stand up."
Scottie Reynolds found Cunningham inside and he was fouled with 10 seconds left. A 68 percent free throw shooter for the season, Cunningham made both for the one-point lead.
