Game 30: Pitt 67 T.J. Warren 74

Pitt couldn't stop T.J. Warren.  He actually only had 41 of NC State's 74, but that was still enough to shatter the Pete scoring record.  Chris Quinn had 37 for Notre Dame back in 2006, but Pitt won that game 100-97 in double overtime.  I can't even be mad at Warren.  Pitt tried everything, and he was just unstoppable.  Plus, any time you erase this guy from the record book it has to feel good.

Aliens?

Pitt led by as many as 13 in the first half, but they couldn't pull away.  Warren gave NC State the lead for good at 48-46 almost midway through the first half.  Pitt got to within one on numerous occasions, but Warren answered them each time.  After dominating the glass against Notre Dame, Pitt couldn't buy an offensive rebound.  NC State had 16 second chance points to Pitt's 0.  Warren shot 16-22 for the game, so it's not like his 41 points came on a barrage of 3's.  He made mid-range jumpers, layups, dunks, free throws, and even the occasional 25-foot 3-pointer with the shot clock about to expire.

In his final performance at the Pete, Patterson had 17 points on 4-12 shooting.  Zanna had 11 points and 9 rebounds but he was a non-factor.  The MVP goes to Josh Newkirk who had the game of his life in a losing effort.  He had 20 points on 7-8 shooting including 5-5 from long-range.  If Newkirk doesn't go nuts like that, Pitt loses this game by 20.  Newkirk's offensive game has come around in recent weeks.

That's enough about this game.  In the 30 minutes it's taken me to write this post, Warren has scored at least another 18 against Pitt.

Hail to Pitt,
J.O.