Ashton Gibbs and the Panthers were not going to be denied two years in a row by Texas. Gibbs scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half to lift No. 4 Pitt past the No. 22 Longhorns, 68-66, in the championship of the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Texas had defeated Pitt early last season, 78-62, in the CBE Classic in Kansas City. Gibbs shot just 2 for 13 in scoring eight points in that loss, but after a five-point first half Friday, the junior guard got hot in the second and sank a key 3-pointer to give the Panthers (5-0) a 66-62 advantage with 1:24 to play.

Jordan Hamilton poured in a game-high 28 points for the Longhorns (3-1), who were denied the chance to get coach Rick Barnes his 500th career victory.

Pitt used an 8-0 run to seize the lead, which it controlled for most of the first half in grabbing a 31-28 halftime edge.

Pitt had defeated Maryland, 79-70, in Thursday night's early semifinal, while Texas needed overtime to beat No. 16 Illinois, 90-84.

The Illini defeated the Terrapins, 80-76, in Friday's consolation game.