Ramon’s shot rallies Pitt past West Virginia

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PITTSBURGH — Ronald Ramon barely beat the final horn with a game-winning 3-pointer from the left wing and No. 21 Pittsburgh rallied in the final minute to beat cold-shooting rival West Virginia 55-54 on Thursday night.

The Panthers (18-5, 6-4 Big East) got an important win that substantially helps their NCAA tournament hopes and damages those of West Virginia (16-7, 5-5), which led 53-50 with a minute to play but couldn’t find a way to finish it — mostly because of terrible foul shooting.

Alex Ruoff, an 85 percent free throw shooter, missed one of two free throws with 9 seconds remaining to prevent West Virginia from taking a three-point lead. That miss — the Mountaineers were only 7-of-17 from the line — proved costly when an unguarded Ramon took Keith Benjamin’s giveback pass and hit the game winner.

Sam Young and Keith Benjamin scored 10 each for Pitt, which beat the Mountaineers for the fourth time in a row and the 10th time in 13 games. DeJuan Blair had 12 rebounds, but was limited to 7 points on 3-of-13 shooting.

Darris Nichols scored 16 and Cam Thoroughman had 15 for West Virginia, which lost its third in four games.

West Virginia repeatedly hurt itself at the foul line down the stretch, with Joe Alexander and Da’Sean Butler each missing two free throws apiece.

Women

Purdue 68, Ohio St. 67

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — FahKara Malone scored a career-high 23 points and Purdue defeated No. 19 Ohio State 68-67 on Thursday night.

Danielle Campbell had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Purdue (13-10, 9-3 Big Ten).

Jantel Lavender scored a career-high 30 points and Ashlee Prebilcock had 14 points and eight rebounds for Ohio State (17-6, 8-4).

Purdue is now tied with Iowa for the lead in the Big Ten Conference.