DAYTON, Ohio —Jamarius Burton didn’t play long, but when it mattered most, the team’s leader stepped up big. With his team down by a point with under 30 seconds left, Jeff Capel knew who had to have the basketball, and his faith was rewarded.
A clutch basket from the fifth-year senior put Pitt ahead for good with nine seconds left. A defensive stop the following possession solidified a 60-59 victory over Mississippi State Tuesday evening in the NCAA tournament’s First Four round.
With starting center Fede Federiko out due to a knee injury he sustained last week in the ACC tournament, the Panthers (23-11) formulated a game-plan that attacked the Bulldogs (21-13) in their weakest areas.
