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Undefeated Pittsburgh
looks to match the best start in team history and extend a 31-game home winning
streak when it faces New Hampshire on Saturday.
A 63-56 win over Florida State on Monday moved the 16th-ranked Panthers (11-0)
within one victory of equaling the team's best start, set in the 1929-30 season.
It was also Pittsburgh's school-record 31st straight home win, a streak that includes a 25-0 mark since the Petersen Events Center opened last season.
Pittsburgh is beginning to learn that its bench might be better than projected.
Mark McCarroll,
a seldom-used reserve last season, scored 13 points Monday in his second consecutive
strong game as the Panthers dealt Florida State its first loss. Freshman Chris
Taft added eight points and five boards off the bench, and leads the team with
6.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
Carl Krauser led Pitt on Monday with 17 points and eight assists and didn't
commit a turnover. McCarroll had six points during a pivotal 10-2 run that started
the second half and gave the Panthers a 38-30 lead.
McCarroll, a 6-foot-10 junior, didn't play in nearly half of Pitt's games last season and hadn't scored more than 10 points in any game during his career until getting 14 in last Saturday's 70-49 victory over Murray State. His playing time has increased substantially with starter Chevon Troutman battling a groin injury.
``Mark's always been able to do that,'' Troutman said. ``The difference is he's getting playing time and getting into the game.''
McCarroll agreed he's more excited about this season, even routine practices, because he knows he's likely to play.
``I'm getting an opportunity and I'm getting more minutes,'' he said.
Jaron Brown added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Pittsburgh, which has held six of its last seven opponents to 56 points or fewer.
New Hampshire (3-5) lost 82-53 to Rhode Island on Sunday, marking its third loss in four games.
Craig Walls had 10 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. He leads the team with 8.4 rebounds per game.
Ben Sturgill paces New Hampshire with 13.3 points per game.
This is the first meeting between the teams.