Bucknell Has Eventful Journey to Pittsburgh

Coach Pat Flannery knew the victory over No. 10-ranked Pittsburgh on Sunday night was obviously one of the biggest in Bucknell’s history. He just wasn’t able to rank it right away.

Kevin Bettencourt made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to give the Bison the lead in a 69-66 victory that ended the Panthers’ 48-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents.

“I don’t know where to put it,” Flannery said. “You don’t play these games on your schedule without thinking you can come in and beat them. I felt like we could come in and play with them. I’ll put it in perspective when I calm down.”

Chris McNaughton scored 17 points, Charles Lee had 14 -- including the last two free throws with 2.3 seconds to play -- and Bettencourt had 13 to help Bucknell (9-4) win its sixth game in a row.

“It’s a lot of fun to play a game like that,” McNaughton said. “To end up winning, it’s just tremendous for us. The way we played as a team made the difference.”

Said Pittsburgh junior guard Carl Krauser: “We were ready for the game, but when we got here, it was a different story. They came out blazing and we didn’t step up to the challenge as well as we should have. Everyone hates to lose a game like this. It’s an eye-opener.”

Krauser led the Panthers (10-1) with 20 points.

The last time Bucknell had defeated Pittsburgh was Jan. 11, 1975, when the Bison was coached by Jim Valvano. That was Bucknell’s last victory over a current Big East Conference team.

The Bison last won six consecutive nonconference games in 1958-59.

“Our guys were well aware of how good they were coming in,” Coach Jamie Dixon said. “It was one of those nights as far as how we played. But our defense is not where it needs to be.”

No. 4 North Carolina 105, William and Mary 66 -- Sean May scored 24 points at Chapel Hill, N.C., to help the Tar Heels (12-1) win their 12th consecutive game.

Corey Cofield and Nate Loehrke each had 16 points for the Tribe (4-6).

No. 5 Wake Forest 89, No. 25 Virginia 70 -- Chris Paul had 21 points at Charlottesville, Va., to lead the Demon Deacons (12-1) to their seventh consecutive victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

Devin Smith had 19 points for the Cavaliers (8-2), who lost their 10th consecutive conference opener.

No. 6 Duke 62, Clemson 54 -- J.J. Redick had 20 of his 24 points in the second half at Durham, N.C., to lead the Blue Devils in the ACC opener for both teams.

The Blue Devils (9-0) won their 18th in a row against the Tigers (9-4).

No. 15 Texas 89, Nevada Las Vegas 82 -- P.J. Tucker had 25 points for the Longhorns (10-2), who used a late 12-1 run to take control at Austin, Texas.

Romel Beck and Jerel Blassingame each had 17 points for the Runnin’ Rebels (6-5), who led, 50-48, with 13:30 to play.

West Virginia 82, No. 17 North Carolina State 69 -- Johannes Herber and Mike Gansey each scored 15 points at Raleigh, N.C., and the Mountaineers improved to 10-0 for the first time since 1959-60, when Jerry West played for them.

Freshman Andrew Brackman scored 19 points in his first start for the Wolfpack (10-3).

No. 19 Louisville 98, Tennessee State 64 -- Francisco Garcia matched his career high with 29 points, including eight in a row during a 27-4 run in the first half, to help the Cardinals (11-2) pull away at home.

Bruce Price had 24 points for Tennessee State (5-9) .