Where: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Officials: # Bernard Clinton, # Ed Hightower, # Wally Rutecki
Attendance: 9489
Brad Wanamaker scored 19 points and No. 6 Pittsburgh rode a stellar defensive effort to a 61-46 home win over American in its non-conference finale on Wednesday night.
The Panthers (12-1) trailed by two points early before back-to-back three-point plays by Dante Taylor and Gilbert Brown began a 17-2 run midway through the first half that built a 27-14 advantage.
American (7-5) got as close as eight after the intermission, cutting the deficit to 47-39 with 10:40 remaining, but Pitt held the Eagles scoreless over the next 7:28 to put the game away.
Brown added 15 points for the Panthers, who enjoyed a 41-24 rebounding edge and turned the ball over just five times. Vlad Moldoveanu led American with 23 points.
Pittsburgh opens Big East play on Dec. 27 when it hosts No. 4 Connecticut.
| American U. | Pittsburgh | |
| Vlad Moldoveanu 23 | Scoring | Brad Wanamaker 19 |
| Nick Hendra 3 | Assists | Travon Woodall 5 |
| Nick Hendra 8 | Rebounds | Dante Taylor 7 |
| Vlad Moldoveanu 2 | Free Throws Made | Brad Wanamaker 6 |
| Troy Brewer 2 | Steals | Brad Wanamaker 2 |
| Nick Hendra 1 | Blocks | Gary McGhee 2 |
| Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
| American U. | 46 | 41.3 | 5-17 | 3-4 | 14 | 22 | 2 | 4 | |
| Pittsburgh | 61 | 40.0 | 4-13 | 13-25 | 15 | 37 | 4 | 4 |