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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (12/3/2009)

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The Big East was 7-0 on Wendesday night and the conference now has a 89-12 record against non-conference foes, wow! The only real drama was in the ‘City Game’ between Pittsburgh and Duquesne as the Panthers rallied from a 16-point deficit to eventually win in double OT in the final basketball game scheduled for Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Elsewhere, Connecticut, St. John’s, Louisville, South Florida and Villanova cruised to easy home wins while DePaul had to work a little harder for their victory.

Tonight, Seton Hall and Rutgers are in action on their home court against lesser opponents. In other SHU news, there is an end in sight to Keon Lawrence’s indefinite suspension which is no longer indefinite.

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WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S GAMES:

Pittsburgh 67, Duquesne 58 (2 OT)
–Pittsburgh found themselves down 33-20 at the half and 40-24 early in the second half, but Jamie Dixon changed defenses, scrapping his trademark man-to-man for a 2-3 zone and Pitt Rallies Past Duquense to Win Epic City Game (Tribune-Review), as Mellon Arena Says Goodbye to Basketball (Tribune-Review), 67-58 in double overtime.

Ashton Gibbs shook off a poor shooting night with two three-pointers in the second overtime and finished with a team high 15 points. Gibbs was just 3-12 fromnt he field and his first field goal of the game did not come until 2:06 was left in regulation when his three tied the score at 53, which was how regulation ended.

Brad Wanamaker added 14 points and 10 rebounds while Nasir Robinson (11 points and 9 rebounds) and Gary McGhee (11 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks) also reached double figures for the Panthers who continue to be without the serives of senior Jermaine Dixon (foot injury) and Gilbert Brown (academic suspension). With the win Pittsburgh is now 6-1 on the season.

Bill Clark had a game-high 23 points for Duquesne, but star forward Damian Saunders was limited to six points and eight rebounds in 32 minutes before fouling out late in regulation as a Chance for ‘Big’ Win Slips from Duquesne’s Grasp (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
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Connecticut 92, Boston University 64
–Connecticut got 22 points from Jerome Dyson and outrebounded Boston 50-25 in a 92-64 win over the Terriers. Kemba Walker added 15 points and 10 assists while Stanley Robinson scored 16 and grabbed 9 rebounds. Freshman Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (12 points, 7 rebounds) and senior Gavin Edwards (12 points, 9 rebounds) also scored in double figures off the bench.

There was a Scary Moment in UConn’s Easy Win over BU (Waterbury Rep-Am) as Dyson landed awkwardly and crumbled to the floor in pain. Luckily for UConn Dyson was not injured and after a Brief Scare, Dyson Tears up the Terriers as UConn Men Blitz Past BU in Hartford (Connecticut Post).
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Villanova 77, Drexel 58
–Villanova continues to plow forward, even with freshman center Mouphtau Yarou sidelined indefinitely with Hepatitis B and are 7-0 after beating Drexel last night 77-58. Villanova Rolls Over Drexel (Delco Times) behind 19 points and 11 rebounds from Antonio Pena and 16 from Taylor King off the bench. The ‘Nova ‘d’ was impressive, too, as Villanova Stifles Drexel (Philadelphia Inquirer), holding the Dragons to 18 first half points and just 31 percent shooting from the field for the game.
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Louisville 80, Stetson 48
–Shorthanded Louisville rebounded from their first loss of the season to rout Stetston, 80-48, on Wednesday night. Playing without guards Preston Knowles and Peyton Sive, both out with injures, Jerry Smith Leads Cards in Win (Louisville Courier-Journal) by scoring 17 points. Edgar Sosa and Samardo Samuels each scored 15.

UL shot a blistering 62% from the field for the game and outscored the Hatters by 16 in each half, rotating several different line-ups with Knowles and Siva sidelined with injuries. Rakeem Buckles was inserted into the starting line-up over Jared Swopshire and Reginald Delk took Knowles normal spot in the line-up. Kyle Kuric and Mike Marra also received additional playing time in the understaffed backcourt.
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South Florida 74, Hampton 55
–South Florida used a quick start, racing out to a 24-6 lead within the game’s first 10 minutes, and the Bulls Cruise Past Hampton (Tampa Tribune) the rest of the way in a 74-55 victory.

JUCO transfer Jarrid Famous led USF with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Dominique Jones and Chris Howard each added 13 points in the win.
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St. John’s 63, Stony Brook 55
–With a meeting against Duke on the horizon, it looked like St. John’s shifted their focus slightly from the task at hand to looking ahead a little bit in last night’s win over Stony Brook. After leading by as many as 18 points, St. John’s Gets an Ugly Win over Stony Brook (Newsday), hanging on for a 63-55 victory. The Red Storm are now 6-0 with a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium this weekend to face Duke.

DJ Kennedy scored 19 points and Sean Evans added 12 points and 9 rebounds for SJU in the win. Justin Brownlee provided a spark off the bench, adding 11 points.
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DePaul 58, Alabama State 50
–DePaul got a game-high 21 points from senior Will Walker as DePaul Barely Edges Alabama State, 58-50 (Chicago Tribune) playing without Mac Koshwal. The Blue Demons saw a 13-point lead evaporate to just two points in the second half before Walker was able to provide some breathing room down the stretch with five quick points to ice the game.
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THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES:

Hartford (2-5) @ Seton Hall, 7:00 PM

Princeton (2-3) @ Rutgers, 7:30 PM
–Princeton Coach: Keep Series Going (HoopsHaven)
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While Seton Hall will be in action on the court Thursday night, off the court there is an update on suspended guard Keon Lawrence. Suspended SHU Guard Lawrence Will Rejoin the Team (NewJerseyNewsroom) December 19th the school announced in a statement this afternoon.

Lawrence will be able to rejoin the men’s basketball team December 19 against Temple, ending the suspension which was administered from an early morning car accident November 9. Lawrence was subsequently charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license following his crash on the Garden State Parkway, going the wrong way on the southbound side.

“I want to be clear that I am disappointed by Keon’s terrible lack of judgment in this matter,” said head coach Bobby Gonzalez in the school’s statement. “He has let a lot of people down, but it’s also important to note that he is filled with regret and remorse. He is still a part of our family and I hope in time we can all heal from this.”
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