PITTSBURGH – For the second-straight game the FGCU men's basketball team (9-5) turned the ball over 16 times as Pittsburgh (10-3) shot 54 percent from the field for the game to defeat the Eagles Tuesday night at the Petersen Events Center, 71-54.
 
Julian DeBose (Washington, D.C./St. John College HS/Rice) led FGCU in scoring for the second game in a row with 12 points, while Brett Comer (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) added 10 and Eric Moeller (St. Louis, Mo./De Smet HS/Missouri/College of Central Florida) tallied a season-high nine for the Eagles.
 
Despite shooting 46 percent from the floor (23-50), FGCU couldn't overcome the 16 turnovers, which are tied for the second-most in a game this year. The Eagles gave the ball away nine times in the first 10 minutes of the game, leading to nine Pitt points. In the second half, the Panthers at one point had more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds, 6-5, leading to a 12-0 edge in second-chance points just eight minutes into the half.
 
Following a Bernard Thompson (Conyers, Ga./Rockdale County HS) jumper at the 15:03 mark of the second half, FGCU cut what at one point was a 13-point Pitt lead to just seven, 41-34. The Panthers built the lead back to 11, 45-34, but a DeBose alley-oop finish from an out-of-bounds play trimmed it back to single digits, 45-36.
 
On the ensuing Pittsburgh possession, the Eagles forced a long 3-point attempt with the shot clock winding down which Josh Newkirk hit – the Panthers only second-half make from long range out of seven attempts. An FGCU turnover led to a free throw and then an offensive rebound off the second missed free throw was converted into an easy second-chance layup for Pitt, which quickly built its advantage to 15, 51-36, with just more than 12 minutes left. FGCU could get no closer than 13 the rest of the night as the Panthers converted 17 second-chance points – the most FGCU has surrendered this year.
 
"Pitt did a good job coming out and being aggressive. Part of that aggressiveness forced us into some uncharacteristic turnovers," said FGCU head coach Joe Dooley. "In the second half we made some runs, but they really hurt us on the offensive backboard. They hit some timely shots, and that's what good teams do."
 
Michael Young led a trio of Pitt double-figure scorers with 16 points. Cameron Wright added 15 points, while James Robinson netted 12 for the Panthers, who won their 30th game in a row at home against non-conference opponents and are now 200-27 all-time at the Petersen Events Center.
 
The loss is the third in a row for FGCU, marking just the program's second such losing streak since the start of the 2012-13 season. The Eagles were again without the services of redshirt senior Jamail Jones (Atlanta, Ga./Montverde Academy/Marquette) as he served the fourth of a six-game suspension for a violation of team rules. Jones averaged 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in seven contests this year, including a pair of double-doubles to open the season.
 
Guard Thompson led FGCU in rebounding for the third-straight game as he grabbed six. Comer dished out a game-high five assists – three on alley-oops – but committed a season-high six turnovers.
 
The 53.8-percent clip at which Pitt connected from the field (28-52) is a season high allowed by FGCU as only one other team this year (Iona, 51 percent) has shot better than 50 percent from the floor. Additionally, the 18 points off turnovers for the Panthers are also a season high allowed by the Eagles.
 
The contest concluded a challenging three-game road swing for FGCU as the Green and Blue traveled to Iona (RPI: 82) and Xavier (RPI: 57) prior to Pitt (RPI: 81). The Eagles (RPI: 124) return home for a contest against Ave Maria on Friday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available and be purchased online at FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets, over the phone by calling 239-590-7145 or in person at the Alico Arena Ticket Office (call before visiting for holiday hours).
 
GAME NOTES: FGCU shot just 1-7 (14.3 percent) from 3-point range … the Eagles went 7-8 (87.5 percent) from the free-throw line … FGCU out-scored Pitt in the paint, 38-26 … FGCU never led for the second-straight game … Pitt out-rebounded FGCU, 28-26.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
General-admission tickets for all FGCU men's basketball games at Alico Arena are still available and can be purchased by logging on to FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets, in person at the Alico Arena Ticket Office or over the phone at 239-590-7145. For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram, and "Like" us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB.
 
COACH DOOLEY 
FGCU is led by second-year head coach Joe Dooley, who coached three all-conference selections during his first season and guided FGCU to its first Atlantic Sun Conference Regular-Season Championship and first trip to the NIT. Prior to arriving in SWFL, Dooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Kansas under head coach Bill Self. During those 10 seasons, Kansas produced 300 wins, nine straight Big 12 regular-season titles, six Big 12 Tournament championships, six NCAA Sweet 16s, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances and two Final Fours, including the 2008 National Championship.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness