Ennis' 35-footer keeps No. 1 Syracuse unbeaten
Tyler Ennis took the inbounds pass with 4.4 seconds left and dribbled up court, weaving with Pitt's defense. He had the choice of shooting or passing to Trevor Cooney.
The Syracuse fresher guard determined to shoot.
It was the appropriate choice.
Ennis made the 35-footer at the buzzer and No. 1 Syracuse continued to be unbeaten with a 58-56 success over No. 25 Pitt on Wednesday evening.
" I saw someone ran over to Trevor and I merely had to beat one guy," Ennis claimed." I understood they just weren't visiting let Trevor get it. I simply needed to acquire some space. I understood I could acquire open for a second.".
Syracuse (24-0, 11-0 ACC) and Wichita State are the lone undefeated groups in Branch I.
Talib Zanna, that led Pitt (20-5, 8-4) with 16 points and 14 rebounds, attacked 2 free throws after being fouled on a layup attempt to provide the Panthers a 56-55 lead prior to Ennis' victor.
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon called a timeout after the free throws to establish his protection. That also allowed Syracuse to create a play designed for its brave freshman.
" We secured it concerning in addition to you can secure it," Dixon shared." He made about a 40-footer. We did just what we were supposed to do. If we needed to do it again. ... We did the best things.
" They were going to get a shot off. He made it, and he made a hard one. We understood he would certainly have the round and would be the person. We had 2 people on him. He struck the shot. Our individuals protected, and he attacked a go.".
It was Pitt's first loss in the home to a top-five group in the 12-year record of the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers had actually been 9-0 versus top-five teams and 13-1 versus teams ranked in the leading 10.
" They struck a lucky shot," Zanna stated." We can't do anything concerning it, merely go on.".
C.J. Exhibition led Syracuse with 14 factors.
Pitt had a 54-48 lead with less than 2 minutes remaining, however Exhibition made a 3-pointer with 1:40 to go. He after that attacked a jumper to make it 54-53 with 51 secs left. After Pitt missed on the other end, Ennis made two free throws with 10 secs left to give the Orange the lead.
" C.J. hadn't hit a 3 all game. He hadn't strike the edge, and he makes a 3 and then he attacks a pretty difficult pull-up to offer us an opportunity," Syracuse teacher Jim Boeheim said." Those were big plays and you need to be a special player to make those plays.".
Pitt led 27-24 at halftime and developed its lead to nine in the early stages of the 2nd one-half when Lamar Patterson made a 3-pointer to make it 37-28 with 15 minutes staying.
Syracuse stormed back with a 17-8 run and linked it on Trevor Cooney's 3-pointer with 6:53 to go, but Pitt restored control after Zanna changed a three-point play and fresher Jamel Artis sank 2 free throws for a 50-45 lead.
Price per head Bookie at Pay per Head Network, offering exceptional price per head sports betting solutions starting at just $5 per head for premium price per head bookie software.
But it was all Syracuse after that. Pitt's only factors in the last 1:59 originated from Zanna's two free throws, and the Panthers were outscored 10-3 in the last 1:59.
Syracuse had to play without backup facility Baye Moussa Keita, who sat out with a sprained knee. That required sophomore onward Jerami Give in to obligation as the data backup center behind Rakeem Xmas.
Pitt had injury concerns of its own. Elderly forward and leading scorer Lamar Patterson had the thumb on his right hand wrapped for a second successive game. After going 1 for 9 in his previous getaway against Virginia Technician, Patterson scored 13 points.
