Gay, Villanueva Lead Huskies Past Pittsburgh at Peterson Events Center
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 PITTSBURGH, Pa.
(February 26, 2005) — Freshman Rudy Gay (Baltimore, Md.) scored
17 points and sophomore Charlie Villanueva (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had
14 points and 13 rebounds as the No. 17/19 University of Connecticut
defeated the No. 18/17 University of Pittsburgh by a score of 73-64
Saturday at a sold-out Petersen Events Center on Senior Day for the
Panthers.
The win is the 699th career coaching victory for
head coach Jim Calhoun. UConn improves to 19-6, 11-3 in the BIG EAST with the
win. Pitt falls to 18-7, 8-6 in the league.
Junior Denham Brown (Toronto, Ont.) had 16 points
for the Huskies and sophomore Marcus Williams (Los Angeles, Calif.) added
13 points and six assists.
The lead changed hands on several occasions in the final
minutes as the two teams traded baskets, fouls and free throws in the physical
contest. The Panthers led 63-62 with 4:02 to play on a Carl Krauser layup, but
the Huskies outscored Pitt 11-1 to finish the contest. UConn made five of six
free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
 The
Huskies burst out of the gate to start the second half, hitting seven of 12
shots in a 15-5 run to move back in front at 46-42 with 14 minutes to play. UConn extended that lead to seven, 58-51, with less than seven minutes to play
on a Josh Boone (Mount Airy, Md.) dunk, as the teams headed into the
homestretch.
The Panthers held a 37-31 lead at the half, taking
advantage of 13 Husky turnovers in the stanza. UConn played much of the first half
without Boone and Williams, who both missed time with foul trouble. The Huskies
led by six, at 25-19, when Williams was called for his second foul with 7:25
to play in the half. The Panthers scored the next seven points to re-take the
lead at 26-25 with 5:59 to go until the break. The first half saw four ties and
12 lead changes, but Pittsburgh finished the period with an 8-1 run to take the
advantage into intermission.
UConn returns to action on Wednesday, March 2 with a 7:30 p.m. contest
against the Hoyas of Georgetown University at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in
Storrs, Conn.
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