College Basketball Scores And Results: Pitt On A Roll, West Virginia Goes To OT

A busy weekend for college basketball around the area saw a couple wins for the Mountaineers and the Panthers.

The Mountaineers of West Virginia were playing a game in which they should have been favored, but they had a lot more trouble with the Providence Friars than the betting line might have suggested. It took 45 minutes, but the Mountaineers escaped with an 87-84 overtime win. Truck Bryant was the hero of the day, finishing with 32 points, including the game-clinching three-pointer from the top of the key.

The Pitt Panthers are enjoying a re-birth in Conference play. After starting out 0-7 in conference, the Panthers have won four straight games and continue to climb up the Conference rankings. They got a 79-70 win over intra-Pennsylvania rival Villanova over the weekend, led by Ashton Gibbs and Tray Woodall. Woodall had an explosive scoring performance with 29, while Gibbs provided 25 and his usual calming influence over the game.

For more on the Mountaineers, please head over to our West Virginia blog the Smoking Musket. And for more on the Panthers, you can check out our Pitt blog Cardiac Hill.

West Virginia Vs. Providence: Bryant Beats Friars With Big Three In OT, 87-84

Desperate not to lose four in a row, the Mountaineers battled the Friars into overtime before Truck Bryant buried a deep three from the top of the key to give the Mountaineers an 87-84 victory. A gritty display by the Mountaineers found them stealing a victory in a game that saw 7 ties and 8 lead changes before it was finally decided.

Deniz Kilicli gave the Mountaineers and 84-83 lead late in the overtime, and the 'Eers had a chance to extend after a Providence turnover. Unfortunately, Kevin Jones got bottled up inside and missed a short put back. Providence took over with 23.3 seconds remaining, Gerard Coleman took the ball to the basket, but was fouled on the put-back attempt. Coleman would only hit one of his free throws, giving Bryant the chance to be a hero in a tied game.

The Mountaineers started the second half by removing Jabarie Hinds and Keaton Miles from the starting lineup, and replacing them with Aaron Brown and Gary Browne. It was Truck Bryant, however, who started the half off for the Mountaineers, scoring 13 of the team's first 15 points of the half. Bryant would finish with 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including 5 threes, none bigger than the game winner.

Hotly contested down the stretch, the Mountaineers tied the game for the first time in a seemingly forever on an awkward Deniz Kilicli power move with 90 seconds left. Providence would answer to take at 74-72 lead on a putback by Gerard Coleman.

Kevin Jones missed a three on the ensuing Mountaineer possession, and West Virginia was forced to foul. Vincent Council hit one of his two free throws, giving the Mountaineers a chance to tie the game with 26.6 seconds left to play. Bryant missed a long two, but Jones put it back to cut Providence's lead to one, 75-74. The Mountaineers put Coleman back on the line and he made one of two. The 'Eers pushed the ball up the court and Bryant tied the game on a coast to coast lay-up with four seconds left. Council missed a three pointer at the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

West Virginia Vs. Providence: 'Eers Struggles Continue, Trail 42-36 At Halftime

The Mountaineers recent struggles continued early in today's road contest with the Providence Friars, which has the Friars leading 42-36 at halftime. Providence put WVU at arm's length early with a mid-half 12-4 run. The Mountaineers largest deficit was 15, but they managed to battle back somewhat before the halftime buzzer, going on a 12-6 run to cut the margin to 6.

Providence has sliced up the Mountaineer defense from all angles, shooting a hot 63% for the half. The Friars connected on 14 of the game's first 16 shots. They found easy paths to the basket, and they shot 5 for 8 from three point land, including their first four in a row.

The Mountaineers have seen Deniz Kilicli lead the way in the first half with 11 points and a pair of rebounds. The big Turk has managed to take advantage of the Friars' focus on Kevin Jones. Jones has struggled with double teams early, only tallying 7 points and 3 rebounds. Truck Bryant hit his first shot of the game, a three pointer, but missed his subsequent six shots before hitting a three just before the half, and has 8 points for the half.

The Friars are led by guards Bryce Cotton and Gerard Coleman who had 12 and 11 points respectively.

West Virginia Vs. Providence: 'Eers Look To Snap Skid Against Friars

The Mountaineers try to snap a three game losing streak on the road at Providence.