GAME NOTES: With wins in seven of the last eight games, the Pittsburgh Panthers will entertain the Clemson Tigers in an Atlantic Coast Conference battle Saturday at Petersen Events Center.

Pittsburgh received a scare from Boston College in the team's last outing, as the Panthers managed to outlast the host Eagles in overtime, 61-60. Pitt is 11-4 overall, and owns a 7-0 mark at home.

Clemson finds itself in the midst of a two-game losing streak entering Saturday's clash. The Tigers have dropped consecutive games to ACC competitors North Carolina (74-50) and Louisville (58-52) to slip to 8-6 on the season, with an 0-2 mark away from home.

Clemson and Pittsburgh have met three times on the basketball court in their series history, with the Panthers owning all three decisions. The two sides clashed for the first time during the 1958-59 season, and then met twice a year ago.

Clemson owned a four-point lead over Louisville at halftime in the Tigers' last outing, but a 30.8 shooting percentage in the second half for Clemson allowed the Cardinals to make a run in the period to complete the comeback for the victory. The Tigers endured eight lead changes throughout the course of the contest. Jaron Blossomgame scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the team in both categories, while Demarcus Harrison added 12 points in 29 minutes before fouling out. The Tigers hit on just 7-of-23 shots from beyond the 3-point arc in the loss.

Offense seems like it has been tough to come by at times for the Tigers, who enter Saturday's clash netting 64.3 ppg this season on 41.7 percent shooting from the floor. In fact, Clemson went into Wednesday's contest against the Cardinals owning the worst scoring offense in the ACC. But the Tigers have gotten by on strong defense that is limiting opponents to 62.3 ppg on 39.2 percent shooting. Blossomgame tops Clemson, netting 13.7 ppg with 8.3 rpg. Harrison checks in behind Blossomgame at 11.1 ppg, and then it's Donte Grantham at 10.1 ppg who rounds out a trio of double-digit scorers.

With five seconds remaining in Pittsburgh's overtime contest against Boston College Tuesday, Josh Newkirk connected on a layup to give the Panthers a one- point lead that would ultimately be the game-winner in the 61-60 overtime ACC thriller in Chestnut Hill. Newkirk had 15 points and seven assists for the Panthers in the tight win, while Michael Young contributed 15 points of his own to help. Sheldon Jeter chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds for Pittsburgh, which won despite shooting just 1-of-8 from 3-point range.

Pittsburgh hasn't been overwhelming on the offensive end of the floor this season, entering this matchup sporting a 67.2 ppg mark. Young (13.7 ppg) and James Robinson (11.1 ppg) are the only two scorers for the Panthers that own a double-digit point total, though Jamel Artis (9.1 ppg) isn't too far off the pace. Young also tops the squad this season in rebounding, pulling down 7.9 boards per outing. Robinson adds in a team-best 71 assists and 17 steals to his resume. The Panthers are allowing only 61.0 ppg to opponents this season on 42.9 percent shooting from the field.

Pittsburgh has not only shown recently that the team cane be a powerhouse against just about any opponent, but the Panthers are also exceptionally good playing at home. Clemson will need to step up its game offensively if it really wants to take down Pittsburgh in this one.