Marquette 77 - 74 Pittsburgh
Final - OT
  for this game

James helps Marquette edge Pittsburgh in OT

Jan 22, 2007 - 1:21 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Dominic James helped Marquette do something it had never done in Big East Conference play.

James scored 23 points, including the go-ahead free throws with less than a second left in overtime, as the Golden Eagles posted a 77-74 victory over sixth-ranked Pittsburgh.

Dan Fitzgerald and Wesley Matthews each had 14 points for Marquette (17-4, 4-2 Big East), which has won four straight Big East games for the first time in school history.

James made a pair of free throws with 0.9 seconds left to give the Golden Eagles a 75-74 lead.

"We all believe in each other," James said. "That's what it's all about. Just go up there and knock them down. I didn't go up there to the free-throw line by myself. I felt like I had the whole team up there with me. I went up there and shot them in."

Matthews had six points in overtime and James added four for Marquette, which shot 44 percent (22-of-50) and in improving to 4-1 against ranked teams this season.

"This win is great, but I think it's the way we got it that we'll remember," Marquette coach Tom Crean said. "They didn't get down at the end of regulation and in overtime. That shows the confidence you need to have to get the job done."

Ronald Ramon scored a season-high 21 points and Aaron Gray added 16 and nine rebounds for Pittsburgh (17-3, 5-1), which lost for the first time in 13 home games.

Ramon's two free throws with 3.5 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 64-64.

"Ronald's a great kid," Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said. "It's not an easy thing to do to hit free throws at the end of the game like that. It shows great character, and I'm proud of him."

Marquette had a chance to win in regulation, but James missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Antonio Graves had 12 points and Mike Cook added 11 for the Panthers, who shot 42 percent (23-of-55).

"That was two great teams, two great programs, we just couldn't come up with the win," Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said. "This is a little disappointing, but we've got to learn from it and get after it next game."






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