Pittsburgh ? One of college basketball’s biggest mismatches so far this season is Aaron Gray against any team on Pittsburgh’s schedule.

Gray overpowered undersized Northeastern for 24 points and 14 rebounds despite sitting out much of the second half, and No. 4 Pittsburgh became the second Big East team to rout the Huskies in three days, winning 78-52 Friday.

The 7-foot Gray, four inches taller than any Huskies starter, set up in the low blocks along the free-throw lane, took outlet passes and used a soft shooting touch to toss in short-range shots that Northeastern couldn’t defend. He made 11 of 16 shots.

“We didn’t have the size to combat him,” Northeastern coach Bill Coen said. “Aaron Gary is a centerpiece anybody would like to have. He’s tough to guard and commands so much attention.”

Antonio Graves, a senior guard who is playing much more early in the season than he did last season, added 15 points, and Keith Benjamin had 11 for Pitt (3-0). Northeastern (0-2) was led by Eugene Spates’ 19 points.

Coach Jamie Dixon repeatedly stressed to his players the importance of taking advantage of Gray’s size and ability.

“We wanted to get the ball inside and feed off that, and it was working,” Gray said. “We executed our plays really well. Guys were making great passes, and we just kept going to it.”

Gray, chosen by coaches as the Big East preseason player of the year, is averaging 17 points and nearly 12 rebounds despite sitting out an average of 15 minutes per game. He was voted the Big East’s most improved player in his first season as a starter last season, and Dixon suggested he might have improved even more this season.

“I’ve kept telling people he’ll be a better player and he might be the most improved player in the Big East again, and people laugh,” Dixon said.

No. 5 Ohio State 74, Eastern Kentucky 45

Columbus, Ohio – Freshman sub Daequan Cook hit his first seven shots and finished with 22 points to lead Ohio State. Cook and Ohio State’s trapping defense was the difference as the Buckeyes (4-0) broke free after the Colonels (2-1) got off to a hot start.

No. 7 LSU 96, Nicholls State 42

Baton Rouge, La. – Senior Darnell Lazare scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to record his first double-double, and LSU opened its season with a win over Nicholls State.

No. 10 Alabama 71, Middle Tennessee 62

Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands – Ronald Steele had 20 points and four assists to lead No. 10 Alabama past Middle Tennessee State in the opening round of the Paradise Jam tournament. Richard Hendrix added 16 points.

No. 21 Connecticut 88, Central Arkansas 59

Hartford, Conn. – Freshman Jerome Dyson scored 20 points as No. 21 Connecticut routed Central Arkansas in the opening round of the Hispanic College Fund Classic.

No. 22 Kentucky 79, Mississippi Valley State 56

Lexington, Ky. – Ramel Bradley had a career-high 21 points, and Kentucky started with a 15-0 run in defeating Mississippi Valley State in Tubby Smith’s 500th game as a college coach.