NEW YORK – The Pittsburgh Panthers might as well be called the New York Panthers. They’ve played 15 games at Madison Square Garden since 2002, and seven Panthers are from New York City.

The Pitt men’s basketball team won its 21st straight non-conference game Tuesday night, defeating Memphis, 70-51, in the first game of the Jimmy V Classic at the Garden. Pitt guard Carl Krauser, from the Bronx, led the way, scoring 17 points against the Tigers in front of what sounded like a home crowd for Pitt.

‘It’s pretty obvious we’re not a top 12 team, a top five team, a top 13 team,’ Memphis head coach John Calipari said. ‘We’ve played three of those teams and they’ve exposed all of our weaknesses and the things we want to work on.’

The No. 13 Panthers built a quick 17-3 lead, opening a 30-12 lead 12 minutes in. The first half ticked away slowly as both teams got in foul trouble early, including a Memphis technical foul on Calipari midway through the first half. It was the Tigers’ 10th foul.

The Tigers tried to key on Krauser, pressuring him when he had the ball, but the junior point guard would not be stopped. He was 15-for-18 from the free-throw line.

‘I saw fatigue out there,’ Krauser said of Memphis. ‘We just wanted to come out and jump on them in the first five minutes of each half.’

Despite shooting 37 percent in the first half, the Panthers led in double digits during the first half thanks to 17 free throws.

‘I thought we played very well against a very good team,’ Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said. ‘We really emphasized rebounding this week in practice.’

The Panthers outrebounded the Tigers, 51-35, in the game.

Pitt senior Mark McCaroll lit the Tigers up from the 3-point line. The 6-foot-10 forward was left open on numerous possessions and made Memphis pay. He shot 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, including a deep 3 with 3:39 remaining in the first half, extending Pitt’s lead to 38-19.

At halftime, Pitt led, 41-23, and from there, Krauser and the Panthers would not be slowed. Krauser scored on a short jumper and McCaroll hit another 3 on consecutive possessions less than five minutes into the second half, extending the Panthers’ lead to 21.

‘I screwed up on the scheduling,’ Calipari said. ‘I thought we’d be better than we were with the returning players.’

Published on December 7, 2004 at 12:00 pm