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The Panthers came out of hibernation -- after three days in a D.C. hotel and three games without a road win -- to hand Georgetown its worst loss of the season 82-67 in front of 7,242 at the 20,500-seat MCI Center.

The game, originally scheduled for Monday but postponed because of the severe snowstorm that struck the East Coast, provided the perfect elixir for a hangover born from a disconcerting away losing streak and a 12-point loss to Seton Hall on Saturday.

"We needed this one badly," coach Ben Howland said. "It gives us a needed boost of confidence, and it surely makes the bus ride home from Pittsburgh (last night) much more tolerable."

Time will tell if the ninth-ranked Panthers are back to form, but at least they can take solace in that they can win a quality Big East game away from Petersen Events Center.

The victory not only increased the Panthers' record to 18-4 overall, 8-3 Big East, but it kept them a half-game behind Syracuse (9-3) for the top spot in the West Division. Pitt and Notre Dame are tied for second place. Georgetown, meanwhile, dropped to 11-11, 3-8.

Seniors Brandin Knight and Donatas Zavackas provided the punch in this one, which could be a good sign heading into the final five regular-season games because both had been struggling in recent weeks.

Knight finished with a season-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range and 6 of 6 from the foul line, to go along with six assists in 36 minutes.

Zavackas, who was held out of the starting lineup because of his negative reaction to officiating in the loss to Seton Hall, added 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the foul line, with six rebounds in 28 minutes.

Pitt hit 21 of 23 free throws in the second half and 24 of 29 for the game (82.8 percent), marking the fifth straight game the Panthers shot better than 50 percent from the line.

"I said to the guys in the huddle before the game that in order to win the West, we have to win on the road," said Knight, who moved to 12th on Pitt's all-time scoring list. "We had our focus tonight, and things fell into place."

Pitt, which rarely uses a zone defense, employed one against the Hoyas to near-perfection. They allowed star Mike Sweetney to score 28 points and grab eight rebounds, but the rest of his Georgetown teammates were ineffective, save Tony Bethel, who had 12 points.

"We've seen enough of the zone against us this year, so we felt comfortable using it against someone else," said Knight, who had hit just 15 of 72 field-goal attempts before last night.

Knight also pointed out that the extra night gave the team a morale boost.

"We actually became closer on this trip," said Knight, who said his lingering left ankle sprain has not bothered him the past couple days and that he's been able to practice at full speed for the first time in nearly a month. "We weren't stressed out or tense. We sat and watched movies together, and I really think the snowstorm helped this team out tremendously.

"I think we got caught up in the negative things that might have been said about us, like struggling on the road, and we just forgot it all. I think this trip will do a lot for this team as we hit these late-season games."

The Panthers broke open a 33-33 halftime tie with a 7-0 run to start the second half and rode the shoulders of Zavackas and Knight, who combined for 25 second-half points.

Georgetown took a brief two-point lead with 12:30 remaining, but Zavackas hit a 3-pointer and a layup to give Pitt a lead it would never relinquish, 45-42, with 11:09 remaining.

Chevon Troutman, who started for Zavackas, had seven points, nine rebounds and five assists. Jaron Brown was 3 of 6 from the field and 6 of 6 from the foul line and had 12, and guard Julius Page added 10 on 3-of-7 shooting from the field and 3 of 4 from the line.

"You have to feel good about the way these guys responded," Howland said. "It's a big win on the road against a tough team."

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