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No. 7 Pittsburgh hopes to avoid third straight defeat

Dec 23, 2006 - 5:17 PM Dayton (10-1) at No. 7 Pittsburgh (10-2) 8:00 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- A simple victory against a quality team would be a much-needed present for Pittsburgh.

The seventh-ranked Panthers look to avoid heading into the holiday break with three consecutive losses when they meet Dayton on Saturday.

Pittsburgh has not lost three in a row against non-conference opponents since falling to Illinois State, Navy and North Carolina early in 1996-1997.

After last Saturday's defeat at Wisconsin, the Panthers suffered a 95-89 double-overtime loss to Oklahoma State at the All-College Classic on Thursday.

Aaron Gray made 11-of-15 shots, scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double. Antonio Graves added 17 points and Levance Fields and Mike Cook each scored 15 for Pittsburgh, which was outrebounded, 47-35.

Dayton has won 10 of its first 11 games for the first time since 2003-2004, which ties its best start since opening the 1955-1956 campaign with 14 victories.

Charles Little scored 12 points and Norman Plummer grabbed 11 rebounds for the FLyers, who concluded a six-game homestand with their eighth straight win, a 56-54 triumph over Miami, Ohio.

Dayton leads all Atlantic 10 teams by giving up an average of 57 points. The Flyers have held their last six opponents to 56 points or less for the first time in 56 years.