PITTSBURGH — Seton Hall might have played its way into the NCAA tournament and, at the same time, forced Pittsburgh to play an extra game in the Big East tournament that the Panthers spent all season trying to avoid.

Donald Copeland scored Seton Hall's last seven points over the final 1:56 and the Pirates ended No. 8 Pittsburgh's season-long 16-game home winning streak with a 65-61 victory Friday night that greatly improved their NCAA tournament chances.

"This was a great win," Seton Hall coach Louis Orr said. "We just want to keep playing."

Aaron Gray missed two free throws with 8.5 seconds remaining that would have tied it for Pittsburgh (21-6, 10-6 Big East), and Copeland followed several seconds later with two free throws to deal the Panthers their second consecutive loss and third in four games.

"We realized Seton Hall was playing for a tourney bid, and they had a lot to gain from tonight," said Pitt's Levon Kendall, who scored 15 points. "They were working hard and we didn't match their intensity for 40 minutes."

Kelly Whitney scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Seton Hall (18-10, 9-7) won its second in a row following three consecutive losses that damaged the Pirates' NCAA hopes. Copeland followed up a 28-point game against Cincinnati with 15 points, most down the stretch.

Pitt's late-season slump secures a first-round bye for Georgetown in the Big East tournament and will likely drop the Panthers to the No. 6 seed and a 9 p.m. game Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Panthers were in position to secure the No. 4 spot and a first-round bye until losing to No. 16 West Virginia 67-62 on Monday night.

Marquette can wrap up the No. 5 seed by beating Providence on Saturday. No team has won the Big East tournament under its present format by winning four games in four days.

"We're disappointed we finished the season at home with a loss, but right now the regular season is behind us and both tournaments are ready to begin and we're 0-0 right now," Pitt point guard Carl Krauser said. "We're not done yet, but it's time to get moving."