The Daily Campus

Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux UConn fans hold their breath as A.J. Price takes a three-point shot during Monday nights game against Pittsburgh.

Before Monday's game against No. 4 Pittsburgh, A.J. Price knew his team was in for a battle. He knew the game was going to be tough. He knew it was going to be exhausting - both physically and mentally.

But the most important thing that Price knew was that toughness would be a determining factor in who won Monday's game.

"I've been saying it all week; it's going to be that physical, knock-em out, drag-out kind of game," Price said. "I said it all day that whoever was tougher was going to win the game and that's exactly what happened. "

After 40 minutes of play, the Panthers prevailed as the tougher team, beating No. 1 UConn 76-68.

"I think we did a good job overall," Price said. "We fought, we fought, we were tough and we matched their toughness at times, but coming down the stretch, in the last five minutes, their will was stronger than ours. They played with a type of toughness that you don't see out of a lot of teams in the country."

The Huskies started off Monday's game with a quick 2-0 lead off a jump shot by Stanley Robinson.

A minute later, Tyrell Biggs hit a three-pointer to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead that they would not relinquish for the next 29 minutes.

Hasheem Thabeet, who only played 23 total minutes due to foul trouble, was called for his first foul a little over three minutes into the game. Thabeet came down on DeJuan Blair and was thrown to the ground off Blair's back. Thabeet laid on the ground, holding his left shoulder and needed the trainer to help him off the court.

After that play, Blair dominated the Huskies, reeling in four rebounds and one assist in the three minutes that Thabeet was off the court.

For the rest of the half, the Huskies and Panthers battled each other, but UConn always found themselves playing catch-up.

Price hit a last second three-pointer to end the first half and bring the Huskies to within three points.

Going into halftime, Blair led the Panthers with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Sam Young also has 13 points for Pittsburgh at the end of the first.

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