Baye Ndongo has 23 points and 21 rebounds, Pitt beats Buffalo 80-61

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Baye Ndongo had 23 points and 21 rebounds, Chase Foster added 20 points and Pittsburgh rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat Buffalo 80-61 on Thursday night.

Ndongo made 13 of 17 free throws and added two steals. The Georgia Tech transfer's 20-20 performance was the first by a Pitt player since Justin Champagnie on Dec. 12, 2020.

The Panthers (2-0) trailed 47-32 early in the second half before steadily erasing the deficit. Jonathan Powell hit consecutive 3-pointers to pull within 53-52, and Naithan George made two free throws to give the Panthers their first lead of the half at 54-53 with 8:59 remaining.

George had 16 points, seven assists and two steals, while Foster finished with nine rebounds and two blocks.

Drew Steffe led Buffalo (0-2) with 15 points, four assists and three steals. Syracuse transfer J.J. Starling added 13 points.

Pittsburgh outrebounded Buffalo 50-27 and outscored the Bulls 48-16 in the second half.

Up next

Pittsburgh: Hosts Penn State on Sunday.

Buffalo: Plays United States Collegiate Athletic Association member Penn State Schuylkill this Monday.

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