Recap: Providence vs. Pittsburgh

Providence, RI (Sports Network) - Lamar Patterson tallied 17 points and seven rebounds as the Pittsburgh Panthers held off the Providence Friars, 68-64, in a Big East Conference bout at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Tray Woodall had nine points, eight assists, and three steals for Pitt (16-4, 4-3 Big East), which has won three straight. Talib Zanna and J.J. Moore also netted nine points for the visitors.

For Providence (10-9, 2-5), Bryce Cotton scored 24 points, Kadeem Batts recorded 17 points and nine boards, and Vincent Council put up 11 points and seven assists. The Friars have lost of seven of their last nine contests.

Pitt outshot Providence from the field in the first half, 52 percent to 40.7 percent, as it took a 34-27 lead into intermission.

The Panthers continued hold the advantage throughout the second half, although the Friars would not go away quietly, as they cut the lead to one possession on several occasions. A Cotton 3-pointer with 13 seconds to play put Providence down two, 66-64, but James Robinson drained a pair of free throws on the other end for Pitt to seal the victory.

Pitt shot just 57.1 percent from the foul line on the night, but it still outscored Providence from the stripe, 12-6.