Consider Carlos Strong “broken out.”
After a string of five dreadful games, the sophomore guard finally displayed flashes of brilliance, leading all scorers with 24 points in last night’s 80-53 loss against the No. 14 University of Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center.
Despite shooting a mediocre 7-of-20 from the field (including six shots from beyond the arc), the Boston University men’s basketball team (1-5) desperately needed Strong to terminate his struggles.
Without last year’s leading scorers, Corey Lowe (personal reasons) and Tyler Morris (stress reaction), Strong shot his way out of his dry spell. In BU’s previous five contests, the Portland, Maine native was a combined 16-of-58 (27.5 percent).
“Carlos played the way he’s capable of,” said BU coach Dennis Wolff. “Carlos needed to have a good game. He was fighting himself. Once he was able to make some shots, he stopped pressing and played better.”
While Strong turned in the best individual effort of the evening, Pittsburgh (6-0) played the epitome of a team game. Four players recorded double digits, while six others made their way on the scoreboard. A 20-3 Pitt run in the first half, coupled with two separate 11-0 spurts, eliminated much of the game’s competitiveness.
Guard Levance Fields (11 points) was Pitt’s spark plug. His low center of gravity and craftiness on the offensive end undid much of the hard work BU did on defense. On multiple occasions, Fields nailed highly contested baskets with the shot clock running down.
Senior guard Ronald Ramon ensured that the Terriers would remain winless against ranked opponents since 1959, making all five of his 3-point attempts for a team-high 15 points. Junior forward Sam Young netted 14, while freshman DeJuan Blair led Pitt with six rebounds.
After senior guard Keith Benjamin knocked down a 3 and junior forward Tyrell Biggs threw down an energetic dunk — giving the Panthers a 21-5 advantage and capping an 11-0 run — Pitt coach Jamie Dixon went to his subs.
With Sunday’s 70-47 loss to Marshall University, the Terriers finished their two-game road trip with a minus-50 point differential. The Panther’s biggest lead of the game was 36 (55-19) roughly five minutes into the second half.
Once again, the Terriers were plagued by turnovers. Since surrendering possession only 11 times in its season-opening win against St. Bonaventure University, BU has coughed the ball up 20, 20, 13, 19 and 20 times in the following five games, respectively.
“We need to be stronger with the ball,” Wolff said. “Some guys have to handle the ball more than we thought we would have them handling it. Tonight those plays led to turnovers.”
If it weren’t for seven turnovers in the first six minutes, BU’s defense might have been playing well enough to keep the game far closer.
Taking care of the ball paid dividends in the second half, however, when the Terriers went on a 14-2 run and closed Pitt’s lead to 23. Ten minutes into the second, freshman John Holland scored seven consecutive points on a trey, an authoritative dunk and a fastbreak layup. The Bronx, N.Y. native finished with a career-high 14.
“I thought today was John Holland’s best game, offensively and defensively,” Wolff said.
“We fought back and played five or six minutes when we had more energy than they did,” he added. “We were able to do that at different periods against one of the best teams in the game.”
Sophomore forward Scott Brittain continued his string of impressive play, especially considering the Panthers’ interior athleticism. Brittain scored eight points, playing smart in the post and drawing fouls, and could have reached double digits had he not shot 4-of-8 from the free-throw line. He also hauled in a team-high six boards.
All things considered, BU’s energy level was impressive against a team with an average margin of victory of 31 points. Still, no one will get a true taste of what the Terriers can be until Lowe and Morris return to the lineup.
“We’re not happy to lose,” Wolff said. “All we have to do is get a little bit better than we were yesterday. Corey and Tyler need some practice so we can get the team we hope to have together.”