Pitt Shocks No. 23 Cincinnati

Saturday, October 20th 2007, 2:55 pm

By: News On 6

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ LaRod Stephens-Howling scored the go-ahead touchdown and was one of two Pittsburgh running backs with more than 100 yards of total offense, helping the Panthers upset No. 23 Cincinnati 24-17 Saturday.

Pitt (3-4, 1-1 Big East), which had lost four in a row coming into the contest, didn't take the lead until Stephens-Howling carried the ball for the fifth consecutive play during a fourth-quarter drive that ended with a 7-yard score.

Cincinnati (6-2, 1-2) entered the game leading the Big East in rushing defense but was shredded by a Pitt running attack that featured big days by Stephens-Howling and LeSean McCoy. Stephens-Howling carried 13 times for 100 yards and McCoy, a freshman, gained 137 yards on 25 carries.

Ben Mauk was 21-of-32 for 237 yards and rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown for the Bearcats, who uncharacteristically fumbled three times in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati was coming off its first loss in 10 games after being upset by Louisville last week. The Bearcats' No. 15 ranking heading into that game was their highest in 53 years.

Pitt, meanwhile, had dropped nine of its past 10 against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) teams.