Pitt rallies in second half to top Marquette at the Garden

The Panthers trailed by as many as 15 points on Friday, but rallied back to defeat Marquette, 78-75.

Michael Young led the Panthers with a career-high 30 points—including 19 in the second half—and Jamel Artis added 21.

After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Golden Eagles took control late in the first half. After Young’s free-throw with 8:54 remaining, Pitt did not score again for the next three minutes plus. Justice Kithcart’s free-throw with 5:04 to go in the first made it 25-22, Marquette. The Panthers only scored 11 more points in the half and trailed 44-33 at halftime.

Pitt used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to tie the game up at 59 with 10:33 to go. During the three-minute run, Young scored all 10 of Pitt’s points.

After Marquette ended the run with a three-pointer, Pitt outscored the Golden Eagles 19-13 to claim victory. Young and Artis combined to scored 24 of Pitt’s 45 second-half points. 

Despite out-playing their opponent in the second half, the Panthers had to fight for the win until the very end. With less than a minute to go, the Golden Eagles got the ball, trailing by one. After a timeout with 25 seconds remaining, Marquette entered Pitt’s end of the half court and attacked.

However, Young’s block with 19 seconds to go and a missed three-pointer 13 seconds later sealed the game. Two free throws by Artis provided the icing on the cake.

The win moves the Panthers to 3-1 in 2016-17 and 47-46 all-time at Madison Square Garden. Pitt claimed victory despite making a season-low four three-pointers. This win was only the second game this season that the Panthers out-rebounded their opponent. Both occasions have resulted in victories.

The Panthers’ next game is Nov. 22 against Yale. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from the Petersen Events Center