Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

GAME NOTES: Top 25 programs come together at the Petersen Events Center tonight, as the 25th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers host the fifth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers in a Big East showdown.

Pitt stepped away from its Big East schedule on Monday and coasted to a 77-53 victory over Robert Morris. It was the second straight victory for the Panthers, who had lost four of five prior to the recent wins. Pitt is now 18-6 overall and that includes a 13-1 mark at Petersen Events Center, where the program is 5-0 all-time against Top-5 ranked teams.

As for the Mountaineers, they had a chance to move within a game of first place in the Big East standing, but instead came up short, 82-75, against No.4 Villanova on Monday. The defeat ended a six-game win streak and dropped the squad to 19-4 overall and 8-3 within the league. WVU though, has enjoyed good success on the road, going 4-1 in conference play thus far.

This is the 180th all-time meeting between WVU and Pitt on the hardwood, with the Mountaineers holding a 95-84 advantage. The Mountaineers defeated Pitt, 70-51, just last week, but the Panthers have captured the last four meetings at the Petersen Events Center.

Normally a sound shooting team, WVU went a dismal 7-of-27 from beyond the arc and an equally as poor 18-of-32 at the foul line, as it was downed by Villanova earlier in the week. The Mountaineers also lacked some defense, allowing the Wildcats to shoot a sizzling 56.9 percent from the field. Darryl Bryant paced the team in defeat with 15 points and four boards, while Devin Ebanks and Da'Sean Butler had 13 points apiece. Butler is the team's leading scorer on the campaign at 17.1 ppg and he also grabs 6.0 rpg and shoots 39.0 percent from long distance. Kevin Jones ranks second with 14.0 ppg and 7.6 rpg, while Ebanks logs 11.2 ppg and a team-best 8.6 rpg. Bryant rounds out the team's double-digit scorers, with 10.5 ppg.

The Panthers dropped in 10-of-22 shots from long range and 23-of-31 at the charity stripe, as they breezed past Robert Morris earlier in the week. Pitt also dominated the boards, 43-28, including a 16-10 edge on the offensive glass. Ashton Gibbs led the charge with a 20-point effort, while Jermaine Dixon had 18 points and six boards. Brad Wanamaker also got into the mix, notching a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. For the season, Gibbs is leading Pitt in scoring at 16.5 ppg and he is an elite free-throw shooter, hitting on 91.2 percent of his 114 attempts. Wanamaker is the squad's most versatile player, as he turns in 12.3 ppg to go with 6.4 rpg and 4.2 apg. Gilbert Brown tacks on 10.8 ppg, and Dixon follows with 10.7 ppg.

Pittsburgh has been tough at home as always, and playing in front of its fans should help the Panthers overcome their rival and even things up with the Mountaineers.