Monday Night Meltdown: Orange Fall to Pitt, 78-60

The Syracuse Orange did their best to overcome an ugly first half by trimming what was once a double-digit deficit to three before the half last night in Pittsburgh. However, any momentum gained during the comeback could not be sustained by the Orange as they fell to the Pitt Panthers last night 78-60.

Syracuse continues to make a name for itself with some of the worst free throw shooting in the country.

Even with Levance Fields improbably missing four technical foul shots for the Panthers, and DeJuan Blair throwing up an airball on another, the Panthers still managed to outshoot the Orange from the charity stripe. 

Although Orange fans probably cringe at the name charity stripe lately, as free throws have been anything but charity for the Orange.

Leading the charge at the free throw line was Arinze Onuaku, with an unimpressive 0-5 tally. Following a blistering performance against Luke Harangody over the weekend, Onuaku seemed to struggle to contain Pitt's Blair who finished the game 20 points and 12 rebounds. Rick Jackson had similar problems as both players finished the game with just nine points.

The story for the night though was the technical fouls called against the Orange.

Paul Harris was assessed a technical foul after blocking a Sam Young shot in the first half, and Rick Jackson was also assessed a technical after shoving Blair following a dunk.

Jackson appeared to be lashing out in frustration after a shot to the face by Blair on the dunk attempt wasn't called by the officials.

Although Fields missed all of the free throw attempts, the play by Harris was especially costly as foul trouble limited his playing time in the second half, and may have forced the Orange to play more zone they intended to coming in to the game. 

The game was marred by questionable officiating, but in the end Syracuse never established an identity against Pittsburgh, and the Panthers using that to their advantage wearing down the Orange with with aggressive play around the rim and a balanced scoring attack led by Sam Young's 22 point game.