Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Pitt guard Carl Krauser looks to get around Penn State's Aaron Johnson and to the basket in Saturday's game at Penn State. On the floor is Penn State's Danny Morrissey. Click photo for larger image.

Before the NCAA basketball season started, Pitt's Carl Krauser promised to make an effort to exhibit more pure point guard qualities. And, through five games, Krauser stayed true to his word, dishing more often than shooting and letting his teammates rack up the points.

But, in the past two games, Krauser has taken on more of a scoring mentality. He has scored 45 points, including a career-high 28 in the 84-71 victory Saturday at Penn State. He scored 56 in the first five games.

Saturday, Krauser noticed some hesitance and uncertainty among his teammates, so he went back to his role as a scoring point guard, the role in which he flourished last season, when he led the team in scoring.

Krauser played 38 minutes and didn't come off the floor in the second half.

"In different games, you take it upon yourself to show guys what you can do," Krauser said. "At different points of the game, I felt I had to be a leader and I just came out and led by example. I had to show our guys that we were in control, there's nothing to be afraid of. It was just a regular game, and we had to get through it."

Penn State went on a 15-2 run midway through the first half Saturday and took a 31-30 lead. Krauser responded by scoring 19 of Pitt's next 35 points.

Eleven of those 19 points he scored in that stretch -- over the final 5:25 of the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half -- came immediately after Penn State had converted a 3-pointer.

	By the numbers Here are the game-by-game points and assists for Pitt guard Carl Krauser this season: Opponent Pts. Assts. Howard 5 6 Robert Morris 18 5 Loyola (Md.) 8 9 St. Francis (Pa.) 10 5 Duquesne 15 6 Memphis 17 6 Penn State 28 6

Krauser likes to take inspiration from some famous point guards. In the Penn State game, Krauser took on the persona of Allen Iverson. He was the "Answer."

"Guys are confident when he's in there," coach Jamie Dixon said. "I think our guys are comfortable when Antonio [Graves] and Ronald [Ramon] are out there, too. But Carl has more experience than the other guys. He makes great decisions. He's been very good about making decisions in transition."

Krauser had to score more against the Lions because Chevon Troutman was in foul trouble. After scoring 13 points in the first half, Troutman picked up his third foul early in the second half and had to spend six minutes on the bench. Chris Taft, Pitt's second-leading scorer entering the game, had 11 points, but he only took seven shots from the field.

"He took it upon himself to pick our team up a little bit," Troutman said. "A couple of us were in foul trouble and he got us through that tough time."

Penn State freshman Mike Walker had a tough time keeping up with Krauser.

"That's the first time I had to guard someone like him," Walker said. "He's so physical. He's 6 feet 2, 210 pounds. He's one of the best point guards in the country."

Krauser's previous career high was 26 points, set in February at Georgetown. Much of Krauser's recent scoring success has had to do with his ability to get to the free-throw line. He is 19 of 24 from the line the past two games. In the first five games, he went to the line only 29 times.

"I had a talk with coach [Orlando] Antigua," Krauser said. "He always tells me a good point guard gets to the foul line. I just wanted to make sure I got to the foul line. I want to get to the foul line as much as I can and knock down free throws."

With his output Saturday, Krauser moved past Taft and is second on the team in scoring behind Troutman. Krauser said that whether he scores or passes in a game depends upon the opponent and the way things unfold for the offense.

"If the opportunity is there, I'm going to look for my shot," Krauser said.

NOTES -- Pitt does not play until Saturday, when Coppin State visits the Petersen Events Center. ... Pitt is 7-0 for the third consecutive season.