Pitt turned a shaky first half into a runaway finish, rolling past Buffalo 80-61 after staring at a 32-45 deficit at halftime. The 19-point win marked the Panthers’ biggest comeback since they erased a 13-point hole against Duquesne in the 2009-10 season.
The turnaround came in a blistering second half, when Pitt outscored Buffalo 48-16. The Bulls managed only three made shots and one made three-pointer after the break, and their foul trouble helped fuel the swing. Buffalo was whistled for 33 personal fouls, and three different Pitt players finished with at least 10 free throw attempts.
Georgia Tech transfer Baye Ndongo powered the effort with 23 points and 21 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. It was the first 20-20 game by a Pitt player since Julian Champagnie in 2020, and it was also the first time Ndongo has grabbed more than 20 rebounds in a game.
Freshman Chase Foster kept building momentum as well, posting his second straight game with at least 20 points. He tied Ndongo for the team lead in shot attempts with 10 and scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half. Foster also came close to a double-double with nine rebounds.
The opening half, though, showed why Jeff Capel remains under pressure. Pitt’s offense again looked loose and improvised, with too much left to the guards to sort out on their own. That kind of approach can get messy fast, especially against an opponent that should be there for the taking.
Last season, Pitt dropped home games to Hofstra and Quinnipiac, and this one had the feel of another bad slip. Instead, Capel’s team found its footing and turned a double-digit deficit into a comfortable victory. The Panthers still put themselves in a hole, but the response showed some growth.
Ndongo already looks like Pitt’s best big man in years. Cam Corhen carried a heavy load last season as basically the only center Capel trusted, but Ndongo logged 33 minutes and delivered a true 20-20 performance.
Armani Mighty, Pitt’s other center addition from the transfer portal, played only five minutes. Mighty came in with the reputation of being the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, so his limited role, especially in the second half, stood out.
Even with the uneven start, Pitt’s frontcourt made the difference. The Panthers now turn to their first road game and first Power Four opponent, a matchup with rival Penn State in Philadelphia on Nov. 8.