PITTSBURGH — After a disappointing loss at home to Marquette last Sunday, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon reminded his players that how well — or poorly — they play defense almost always determines if they win. The No. 9 Panthers apparently got the message.

Pittsburgh relied on the inside play of Aaron Gray and Sam Young to control poor-shooting St. John's at both ends of the floor, and the Panthers extended their best Big East start by cruising to a 72-46 victory Saturday.

The 7-foot Gray had 13 points and 10 rebounds as Pitt (19-3, 7-1 in Big East) repeatedly limited St. John's (12-9, 3-5) to one shot on offense, preventing the Red Storm from settling into a rhythm while shooting only 32.1 percent. Pitt won its ninth in 10 games.

Lamont Hamilton, St. John's leading scorer, didn't score until there were 5Z\x minutes left in the first half and the Red Storm were down 14. The 6-10 Hamilton had 24 points and eight rebounds in St. John's 55-50 upset of then-No. 9 Pitt last season, only to be limited to eight points and two rebounds on Saturday.

Dixon matched 6-10 Levon Kendall against Hamilton, rather than the slower Gray, a challenge Kendall willingly accepted before getting six points, nine rebounds and a blocked shot.

"He never got going," Kendall said. "We made sure every shot was contested and we didn't make it easy for him. I always enjoy going against the best post player from the other team. And the guys were hassling me before the game, telling me I couldn't let him score too much."

Since that 77-74 overtime loss to No. 15 Marquette, which was No. 24 at the time, Pitt has allowed Cincinnati and St. John's to shoot only 34.3 percent — 36-of-105.