Boston, MA -- (Sports Network) - Scottie Reynolds drove to the basket for the winning layup with 0.5 seconds remaining, and Villanova gained a berth in the Final Four with a dramatic 78-76 win over Pittsburgh in the East Regional final of the NCAA Tournament.

The third-seeded Wildcats overcame a late mistake and had more magic just like the 1985 team that won it all, this time beating the Panthers for a second time this season to earn a trip to Detroit next Saturday.

It was 24 years ago when the Wildcats made an improbable run and beat Georgetown in the title game, which today stands as one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history.

Dwayne Anderson scored 17 points and Reynolds netted 15 for the Wildcats (30-7), who made their first 21 foul shots, finishing 22-fof-23 for the game. They'll take on the winner of Sunday's game between North Carolina and Oklahoma as those teams battle in the South Regional final in Memphis.

"We've got really good players that really play well as a team," said Villanova coach Jay Wright. "I'm so proud for them and for Villanova, in this great tradition we're all a part of."

The Big East currently accounts for half of the Final Four field. Earlier Saturday, Connecticut beat Missouri, 82-75, in the West Regional final. Louisville could become the third team from the conference to earn a trip to Detroit on Sunday if the top-seeded Cardinals beat Michigan State in the Midwest Regional final.

In 1985, three Big East teams were in the Final Four with St. John's also making it.

Sam Young scored 28 to pace the top-seeded Panthers (31-5), who were playing in their first Elite Eight game since 1974. Pittsburgh made its only NCAA Final Four appearance in 1941 when there were only eight teams invited to the tournament.

DeJuan Blair hit a layup with 10.6 seconds left to draw the Panthers within 76-74, and then Villanova's Reggie Redding tried a long pass to Dante Cunningham, but his throw was too far. Cunningham saved it in bounds to a Pittsburgh player and Levance Fields bowled over Corey Fisher, who was called for a blocking foul with 5.5 seconds left.

After Fields made the two shots at the foul line, Cunningham got the ensuing inbounds pass, threw quickly to Reynolds near half-court and he raced by Pitt defenders all the way to the hoop.

"When Dante gave me the ball I just made an instinct play," said Reynolds. "I decided basically I could pass it and know how much time is on the clock. I got lucky with one tonight."

Officials reviewed the bucket and put 0.5 seconds back on the clock, but Fields' desperation shot from well beyond half-court hit high off the backboard and caromed away.

"I guess Jermaine (Dixon) turned the wrong way, which gave Scottie a step on him," said Fields. "Cunningham made a good pass to Reynolds and Reynolds just went straight to the basket. He even took a little bit of contact, but was still able to finish."

Exactly two months ago, the Wildcats claimed a 67-57 win over the Panthers in a physical battle at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The regional final was also tough under the backboards, and Panthers guard Dixon was out for a majority of the second half due to a strained groin after Villanovas Shane Clark landed on his left leg just 16 seconds into the half.

Cunningham scored 14 and Clark 11 for the Wildcats, who shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the second half. Blair ended with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Field contributed 10 points and six assists.

Early on it was Villanova taking control. Clark hit a three-pointer to expand the Wildcats' lead to 18-8 with just over 12 minutes left in the half. Pittsburgh later came back with eight straight points, cutting the deficit to 22-20. The Panthers were able to grab a 34-32 edge at the break thanks to a pair of Young foul shots with 2.6 seconds left.

The lead changed hands several times in the final 20 minutes. After Corey Stokes drilled a three for a 52-47 'Nova lead, Pitt came back for a 55-54 edge on a Young layup at the midway point.

Dixon's jumper that barely beat the shot clock gave the Panthers a 67-63 lead with nearly 3 1/2 minutes to go, but the Wildcats bounced back for the next five points, started by an Anderson steal that turned into a three-point play. Corey Fisher then scored off a back-door cut for the Wildcats.

Later, Fisher made two foul shots for a 73-69 difference, but Young sank a three-ball with 39 seconds remaining. Fisher added two free throws, making it 21-of-21, which was at the time one shy of the NCAA tournament record set by Fordham (vs. South Carolina, 3rd round, 1971).

After Fields was off the mark on a three-point try, Redding made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe for a 76-72 margin, setting up the incredible finish.

Game Notes

Just three years ago, Villanova lost to eventual champion Florida in the Elite Eight. This marks the fourth Final Four appearance for Villanova as the school also made it in 1971 and 1939...This was the fifth time in NCAA Tournament history two teams from the Big East played against each other with the other four encounters coming over a three-year span (1985-87)...Pittsburgh went 15-of-28 from the floor in the second half...Villanova held a 33-28 rebounding advantage.