PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Ashton Gibbs scored 24 points and No. 2 Pittsburgh avoided a second straight upset by holding off pesky Rutgers 65-62 on Saturday night.
The Panthers (20-2, 8-1 Big East) scored 12 of their last 15 points from the free throw line and hit only one basket in the final 7:03 - a long 3-pointer by Gibbs with 55 seconds to play - in posting its 10th straight 20-win season.
Gary McGhee added 13 points and Brad Wanamaker added nine, including seven free throws in the final 6:17.
Jonathan Mitchell, Mike Coburn and Robert Lumpkins had 12 points apiece for Rutgers (12-9, 3-6), which saw a game-tying 3-point attempt by Dane Miller hit off the backboard with less than seven seconds to play.
Pittsburgh got the rebound and ran out the clock, disappointing a loud and near-sellout crowd at the Rutgers Athletic Center.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
