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Young helps Pittsburgh cruise past Dayton

Dec 24, 2006 - 5:39 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Sam Young knew that home cooking was just what Pittsburgh needed to right its mini-losing streak.

Young scored 18 points off the bench and Levance Fields added 16 as No. 7 Pittsburgh posted an 84-54 rout of Dayton.

Wooden Award candidate Aaron Gray had just five points but hauled in 15 rebounds and added two blocks for the Panthers, who rebounded from disappointing losses to ranked foes Wisconsin and Oklahoma State.

"It had a lot to do with defense and rebounding. I think when we rebound like I know we can, it helps everything for us," Fields said. "It hurts when you lose, but I think those games we lost will help us later on down the stretch."

Young shot 7-of-10 from the floor and Fields had 14 at halftime for Pittsburgh, which has won 65 of its last 66 regular-season home games against non-conference opponents.

"Dayton is a lot better than they showed, but we frustrated them," Fields said. "And when Sam is playing like that, we're hard to beat."

Pittsburgh outrebounded Dayton, 45-22, and outscored the Flyers in the paint, 46-20.

"Fields did a very good job defensively," Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said. "He had 16 points, but he played well defensively and that's what stuck out to us in the game throughout. That was the most important thing."

Brian Roberts scored 21 points for Dayton, which had won nine straight games. He was the only player to score in double digits for the Flyers, who have lost four straight games to ranked opponents.

"Pittsburgh plays with a high intensity level and we matched it for the first 10-11 minutes," Dayton coach Brian Gregory said. "We withstood their first punch, but they came at us with a second and third. They are the best team we've played in the four seasons since I've been the coach at Dayton. They are a Final Four-caliber team. They are one of those 12 teams in the country that can win it all."