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Insight Bowl: Pittsburgh 38, Oregon St. 13

PHOENIX, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Shawn Robinson's 66-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter wrapped up Pittsburgh's first nine-win season in 20 years Thursday night as the 23rd-ranked Panthers defeated Oregon State, 38-13, in the Insight Bowl.

Pittsburgh (9-4) reached nine wins for the first time since 1982, when it went 9-3 and played in the Cotton Bowl during Dan Marino's senior year. The Panthers were defeated in that game by Eric Dickerson and the SMU Mustangs.

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With a few breaks, however, the Panthers could have finished with an even better record as they ended the regular season with close losses to top-ranked Miami (31-24) and West Virginia (24-17).

Special teams turned around Thursday night's game as Torrie Cox downed Andy Lee's punt inside the five late in the first half. That led to David Abdul's 45-yard field goal that tied the contest, 10-10, as time expired in the second period.

The Panthers carried the momentum into the second half, taking a 17-10 lead on Rod Rutherford's one-yard keeper with 12:06 left in the third quarter. Robinson's return made it 24-10 with 3:24 remaining in the third.

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The Panthers broke it open on touchdown runs by Brandon Miree and Tyler Palko in the final 5 1/2 minutes. Miree rushed for 113 yards on 20 carries.

The first half featured a pair of spectacular touchdowns by each team's star wide receiver.

On the game's opening possession, Pittsburgh freshman Larry Fitzgerald made a diving catch inside the five and landed in the end zone.

Oregon State (8-5) answered moments later on James Newsome's 65-yard touchdown reception. Newsome rolled over as he made the catch near midfield, but retained his balance, got up and raced untouched to the end zone.

Replays appeared to show that Newsome's elbow hit the turf, but the officials allowed the play to continue. Newsome caught 10 passes for 165 yards.

Oregon State took a 10-7 lead on Kirk Yliniemi's 50-yard field goal with 7:57 left in the first half, but the Beavers were shut down thereafter, finishing with just seven yards rushing.

Pittsburgh held Stephen Jackson, the Pac-10 Conference's leading rusher, to just 33 yards on 19 carries, easily his worst game of the year. Jackson ran for a school-record 1,656 yards in the regular season.

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