Jan 11, 2007 2 min read

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) – Aaron Gray scored 18 points and had seven rebounds to lead No. 7 Pittsburgh to a 59-49 victory over DePaul on Wednesday night. Leading 33-26 early in the second half, Pittsburgh (15-2, 3-0 Big East) extended its lead by outscoring DePaul 7-0 during a four-minute span. Gray made a layup, then Antonio Graves hit a 3 and Levon Kendall hit a jumper, giving Pitt a 40-26 lead with 12:37 left.

Graves added 10 points for the Panthers, who have won five straight.

Draelon Burns’ 3-pointer got DePaul within 48-41 with 3:45 remaining, but Gray and Mike Cook answered for Pitt with four straight free throws.

The Panthers handed DePaul (10-7, 1-2) its first loss at home. Burns led the Blue Demons with 15 points and Wilson Chandler added nine points and eight rebounds.

DePaul shot just 34.5 percent and was 6-for-23 from 3-point range.

Pittsburgh never trailed and led 28-18 at the half.

A 9-2 run midway through the first period helped the Panthers pull away.

Gray had a dunk and a jumper and Kendall made a jumper to give them a 20-11 lead.

Pitt held Sammy Mejia and Chandler to three points apiece in the first half. Mejia came in averaging 16.1 points and Chandler averaged 15.8 a game. Mejia finished with 10 points.