PACIFIC 10 ROUNDUP : Pittsburgh Ends Arizona’s Dominance of the Big East

Until this season, Pittsburgh had developed a reputation for beating quality opponents and losing to lesser-ranked teams. The Panthers have lost to most everybody lately.

Until now.

The Panthers (7-10), losers of six of their previous seven games and enduring their worst season in 13 years, got 26 points from Jason Matthews and 23 from Brian Shorter to upset No. 19 Arizona, 100-92, Saturday at Pittsburgh.

Not only was it the Panthers’ first victory over a nationally ranked opponent this season, it reversed a trend of Arizona dominance against Big East opponents under Coach Lute Olson. The Wildcats of the Pac-10 had been 5-1 against the Big East since 1985.

The loss marked the first time Arizona has allowed 100 points since Olson came from Iowa in 1983.

Matthews, who had five three-point field goals, scored all but six of his points in the second half, and Shorter added 15 points after halftime as Pitt never relinquished the lead, although Arizona (12-4) trimmed a 13-point first-half deficit to one point.

Washington 80, Washington State 79--Brent Merritt made two free throws with four seconds left in overtime, lifting the Huskies past the Cougars at Seattle.

Merritt had been fouled by Brian Paine, who hit two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to put the Cougars ahead, 79-78.

The Huskies are 9-9 overall and 2-6 in the Pac-10. Washington State (7-12, 1-8) lost its eighth consecutive game.

Washington’s Eldridge Recasner led all scorers with 29 points, including six in overtime. Darryl Woods led the Cougars with 28.

Bennie Seltzer sent the game into overtime with a three-point shot with four seconds left in regulation.

Arizona State 64, Stanford 53--Alex Austin scored 20 points, 16 in the second half, to lead the Sun Devils at Tempe, Ariz.

Brian Camper added a career-high 15 points, 11 in the second half. Kenny Ammann and Andrew Blahov each led the Cardinal (12-5, 4-4) with 11 points.

The teams were also tied, 24-24, at halftime, and Stanford led, 36-31, with 11:18 to play after holding the Sun Devils (10-8, 3-6) scoreless for 6:34 of the second half. Arizona State’s 17-5 run took care of the deficit.