Dec 28, 2002
Box Score
By ALAN ROBINSON
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH - Brandin Knight's playmaking led No. 2 Pittsburgh on a 15-4
run just before halftime and the Panthers, relying on their defense to break
open the game, cruised to a 65-41 victory over George Mason on Saturday.
Jaron Brown scored 13 points as Pittsburgh (9-0) matched its best start
since the 1987-88 season, the last time it was ranked No. 2. This is the
Panthers' best start in coach Ben Howland's four seasons.
Pitt is 38-6 over the last two seasons and has yet to be challenged this
season. The Panthers' closest game was a 15-point victory over Duquesne in
their opener, and their average victory margin is 27 points.
Knight, a third-team All-American last season, didn't get his first field
goal until 4:36 remained in the game, but his ballhandling and defense were
largely responsible for Pitt's decisive run.
George Mason (5-4) shot less than 20 percent for much of the first half -
the Patriots finished the half 8-of-33 - but trailed only 21-16 with five
minutes left in the half.
Knight got Pitt going with an excellent pass through traffic to Julius Page
for a layup that made it 25-18, then stole the ball on his way back down the
floor and fed it ahead to Brown for a layup.
Page later had a steal that led to the second of consecutive baskets by
Chevy Troutman, and Knight added a free throw and Page drove for another layoff
to finish off a streak of nine straight points that made it 36-20 at halftime.
George Mason, still fighting with its shooting as the smaller, not-as-quick
Patriots had trouble handling Pitt's size and superior inside play, never got
any closer than 11 points after that. The Patriots shot 25.9 percent, 15-of-58.
With Pitt leading 44-33, Ontario Lett scored from the inside on consecutive
possessions and Carl Krauser made one of two free throws as Pitt pulled away
during a 21-7 run.
Brown was Pitt's only double-figure scorer, but four players scored 8 or
more points. Mark Davis led George Mason with 15 points, but the other four
starters combined for only 12 points. Jon Larranaga, averaging 11.6, scored
only 3 points on 1-of-13 shooting.
The Panthers have held four of their first nine opponents to 49 or fewer
points, with two more scoring in the 50s.
Pittsburgh doesn't play a ranked team until its Jan. 6 Big East opener at
home against No. 8 Notre Dame, but the Panthers could be tested Tuesday at
Georgia.
