Pitt freshman Chase Foster scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Panthers to a 95-57 victory over Rider in the season opener for both teams on Monday.
Foster surpassed the previous Pitt freshman scoring mark in a debut of 21 points, set by Ricardo Greer in 1997. Greer played for the Panthers from 1997-2001 and returned to the program in April as associate head coach under Jeff Capel.
Jonathan Powell added 18 points and six rebounds, while Baye Ndongo and A’lahn Sumler scored 12 points apiece. Naithan George contributed eight points and eight assists for Pitt (1-0).
Bryce Baker led Rider with 11 points. Stephen Avegah Semey and Khalil Farmer each finished with nine points for Rider (0-1).
Pitt used a 19-5 run to break open a close game early in the first half. Rider took a 6-2 lead when Baker drilled consecutive 3-pointers, but Sumler answered with a triple.
After an Akir Souare steal, George flipped an alley-oop pass to Ndongo for a one-handed slam, giving Pitt a 7-6 lead. Pitt held a commanding 26-0 edge in fast-break points.
The Panthers forced 17 turnovers, held a 22-4 advantage in points off turnovers and outscored Rider 26-0 in fast-break points. Pitt committed 10 turnovers.
Foster knocked down consecutive 3-pointers, the second giving Pitt a 21-11 lead with 14:03 remaining in the first half.
Powell’s three from the top of the key extended Pitt’s lead to 39-23 with 3:12 remaining before halftime. The advantage grew to 44-23 on a pair of free throws from Foster.
Foster capped the first-half scoring with a two-handed slam that gave the Panthers a 50-26 lead at the break. The Panthers closed the first half with a 14-3 scoring spurt.
Farmer opened the second half with a 3-pointer to pull Rider within 50-29, but the Broncs got no closer.
Jalil Bethea’s layup pushed the Panthers’ advantage to 64-34 with 14:37 remaining.
Powell sandwiched two threes around another from Foster during a 9-0 run that extended Pitt’s lead to 80-46.