Krauser leads way for Pitt
Carl Krauser is turning what traditionally is Pittsburgh’s most glaring weakness into one of its greatest strengths.
Krauser’s outside shooting and career-high 31 points helped the 10th-ranked Panthers hold off visiting Richmond (4-4) 69-60 on Thursday night, the first game between the schools in 66 years.
With shooting guard Antonio Graves out with a sprained ankle, Krauser – Pitt’s point guard – was more aggressive than usual in looking for the outside shot and scored 18 points in the second half.
“You realize as a point guard that sometimes you’ve got to take over a game, and that’s what I intended to do,” Krauser said. “I wanted to give a big lift to my team.”
Chris Taft added 11 points and freshman Ronald Ramon, who started for Graves, had 10 to help the Panthers start 9-0 for the third consecutive season and the second in as many seasons under coach Jamie Dixon.
Pitt has yet to play a Top 25 opponent and isn’t scheduled to meet one until facing No. 11 Connecticut on Jan. 22. The Panthers are 42-1 at home since the Petersen Events Center opened two years ago and have won 24 consecutive non-conference games.
Krauser became the first Pitt player to score more than 30 points at the Petersen Center and matched the arena record of 31 by Notre Dame’s Matt Carroll in January 2003.
(20) George Washington 81, Florida International 71: In Miami, T.J. Thompson hit six 3-pointers and scored 25 points to lead the Colonials (8-1) past the Golden Panthers (5-5) for their eighth straight victory.
Ivan Almonte had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Florida International, who dropped to 0-13 all-time against ranked teams.
(24) Maryland 82, American 61: John Gilchrist scored 20 points and fueled a second-half run that took the Terrapins (7-2) past the Eagles (5-3) in College Park, Md.
Nik Caner-Medley had 16 points and Travis Garrison added 14 for the Terrapins, who led by two points before Gilchrist tossed an alley-oop pass to freshman James Gist, starting a 16-0 run that made it 66-48 with 6:19 left.
Gilchrist and Ekene Ibekwe each scored four points during the spree, which propelled Maryland to its third straight victory. It was the fourth straight game that Gilchrist scored at least 20 points.
(25) Virginia 79, Loyola Marymount 77 (OT): J.R. Reynolds’ driving layup with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Cavaliers (8-1) a win over the visiting Lions (7-3).
Elton Brown scored 25 points for Virginia, while Sean Singletary added 12, including a key 3-pointer in overtime.
Matthew Knight led Loyola Marymount with 27 points.
California 61, Pepperdine 58: Richard Midgley’s 3-pointer as time expired lifted the Bears (7-3) to a win over the Waves (8-4) in the Golden Bear Classic in Berkeley, Calif.
Stanford 84, Montana 66: Dan Grunfeld scored 18 points to help the Cardinal (6-4) beat the Grizzlies (4-7) in Stanford, Calif., Stanford’s 18th consecutive home victory.
Women
Ann Strother enjoyed her homecoming, scoring a game-high 20 points to help No. 8 Connecticut avoid its first losing streak in 12 seasons with a 63-44 win over Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo.
Strother, the best player in Colorado when she went to high school near Denver, made four 3-pointers early to keep the Huskies (5-2) ahead of the Rams (6-4) while they were struggling. Strother was also key in a late defensive clampdown that turned a close game into a runaway.
(13) Minnesota 74, Drake 57: Kelly Roysland scored 15 points, including 10 straight in a key 2-minute span, to lift the Golden Gophers (9-2) past the Bulldogs (5-4) in Minneapolis.