University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
1-0,0-0ACC
Rider
0-1,0-0Metro
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | 26 | 31 | 57 |
| Pittsburgh | 50 | 45 | 95 |
11/2/2026 10:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Freshman Chase Foster scored a game-high 23 points as Pitt opened the season with an outstanding team effort in a 95-57 victory over Rider Monday night at the Petersen Events Center. Foster's 23 points set a program record for the most points scored in a freshman debut. He added six rebounds, two blocks and three steals.
The 38-point win was Pitt's largest since beating Binghamton 103-63 on Dec. 17, 2025.
Fourteen different Panthers saw the court, with five reaching double figures. Jonathan Powell scored a career-high 18 points, shooting 6-of-9 from three-point range, while also recording six rebounds and two assists. A'lahn Sumler and Baye Ndongo followed with 12 points apiece, and Jalil Bethea rounded out the group with 10. Naithan George added eight points to go along with eight assists, one turnover and two steals.
Pitt finished 49.2 percent (32-of-65) from the field, including 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from three-point range. The Panthers recorded 21 assists on 32 made field goals, including 13 assists on 16 field goals in the first half.
The Panthers took a 24-point lead into halftime after shooting 47.1 percent (16-of-34) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range in the first half.
Pitt took the lead early in the first half and used an 18-11 scoring run to take a 26-16 into the 12-minute media timeout. Foster ignited the Panthers in that stretch, scoring 10 points in his first six minutes on the court. Bethea found George for a corner three on a fast break, giving the Panthers their first double-digit lead at the 12:50 mark in the first half.
The Panthers outscored the Broncs 14-3 in the final three minutes of the first half, as Powell went 3-for-3 in three-point field goals during that stretch.
Pitt picked up where it left off in the first half making 6-of-9 field goals in the opening six minutes. George scored five quick points with a pull up jumper and a three two minutes into the half to extend the lead 57-32.
Pitt continued to extend their lead in the second half, using a 9-0 run with three consecutive threes from Powell and Foster.
The Panthers outscored the Broncs 45-31 on 51.6 percent (16-of-31) from the field in the second half, while holding Rider to just 10-of-34 from the field.
RECORD-BREAKING DEBUT FOR FOSTER
Chase Foster finished with 23 points, six rebounds, two blocks and three steals in his collegiate debut, setting a program record for the most points scored by a freshman in their debut. The previous record was held by Associate Head Coach Ricardo Greer, who scored 21 points against Bucknell on Nov. 17, 1997.
TEAMWORK ON DISPLAY
Pitt had 13 assists on 16 made field goals in the first half and finished the game with 21 assists and 32 made field goals. The 21 assists were the most since posting 21 against Boston College on March 8, 2025.
A DOMINANT NIGHT FOR PITT
The 38-point victory marked Pitt's largest margin of victory since defeating Binghamton, 103-63, on Dec. 17, 2025. The Panthers are now 20-0 under head coach Jeff Capel when scoring 90 or more points.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to the Petersen Events Center to face Buffalo Thursday (7 p.m. – ACCNX).
