Panthers look to regroup as 2-game road trip looms

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pitt coach Jamie Dixon likes the increased level of intensity he's seen in practice since the 24th-ranked Panthers fell to No. 14 Cincinnati on Monday.

Good thing, because Pitt (12-2, 0-1) will need that intensity during an early two-game road trip through Rutgers and 15th-ranked Georgetown. The Panthers were dominated in the second half of a 70-61 loss to the Bearcats on New Year's Eve as Cincinnati controlled play at both ends of the floor to outscore Pitt by 17 over the final 20 minutes.

The Panthers missed all 10 of their 3-pointers in the defeat, though Dixon called it just one of those games. He's more concerned about the way the Bearcats had their way in the paint, outrebounding Pitt by nine in the second half to win going away.

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