Binghamton @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2009 ) Binghamton 46, Pittsburgh 71

The Panthers were struggling Monday against Northern Illinois and coach Jeff Capel found just what the team needed. The Panthers shut out the Huskies over the final six minutes of the game and seek a fourth consecutive home victory when Binghamton visits on Friday.

Northern Illinois led by one at the half and extended the edge to seven before Capel switched to a matchup zone that shut down the Huskies' offense, as the Panthers finished the game on a 15-0 run over the final 6:11. "I'm really proud of the fact that we were able to find something in the last eight minutes," Capel said about the zone. "That gave us energy and helped us figure out a way to win when we weren't at our best." Sophomore Trey McGowens came off the bench for the first time this season and just the second time in his career to lead the Panthers with 18 points, while Xavier Johnson chipped in 11 and three assists. Binghamton, which lost 75 percent of its minutes from last season and was pummeled by Michigan State 100-47 in its only game against a team from a major conference, was beaten 73-55 at Youngstown State on Wednesday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT BINGHAMTON (5-6): Pierre Sarr scored 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting before fouling out in 27 minutes against Youngstown, but leading scorer Sam Sessoms (19 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals), was held to seven points on 3-of-12 shooting. The sophomore guard is shooting 29.5 percent beyond the arc while taking nearly 34 percent of his team's shots while he's on the floor - 19th highest in the nation. Brenton Mills averages 11.6 points and is the top 3-point shooter with 25 makes, while fellow freshman George Tinsley tallies 12 points and 8.7 rebounds.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (8-3): McGowens (11.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals), who finished 7-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-8 from 3-point range, was the only Panthers player to make a shot from 3-point range (0-for-9). "Not starting McGowens wasn't any drawn out thing or whatever, it's just what I thought was best for our team today. So, that's what we did. He started the second half, and I thought he was terrific,” Capel said. The Panthers rank ninth in the ACC in offensive efficiency (103.8 points per 100 possessions) and will have to improve their shooting beyond the arc; they are shooting 25.7 percent - ranking in the bottom 10 in the nation - with Johnson (38.7) and McGowens (31.6) the only two rotation players shooting over 30 percent.

TIP-INS

1. Pitt yields 58.5 points per game - 18th fewest in the nation - but its defensive efficiency ranks just 55th (93.2). Pitt's pace of play ranks 339th in the nation, thus resulting in lower scores.

2. Panthers G Ryan Murphy scored 28 points and drained four 3-pointers in the second game of the season but hasn't scored more than 15 since, averaging 8.3 points over his last nine on 30 percent shooting.

3. Binghamton struggles on defense, ranking 334th in defensive efficiency (109.7), 352nd in turnover percentage defense (12.6) and 310th in 2-point field-goal percentage defense (54.8).

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 72, Binghamton 54