Baye Ndongo anchored a historic defensive and offensive display for the Pittsburgh Panthers, recording 23 points and 21 rebounds to lead his team to an 80-61 victory over Buffalo on Thursday night. The Georgia Tech transfer’s dominance extended beyond the box score, as he converted 13 of 17 free throws and secured two steals, marking the first 20-20 performance by a Pitt player since Justin Champagnie in December 2020. Ndongo’s physical presence was the catalyst for a stunning turnaround, as the Panthers (2-0) erased a 13-point halftime deficit to control the final 20 minutes of the contest.
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The momentum shift began in the third quarter when Jonathan Powell sank consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead to 53-52, setting the stage for Naithan George to secure the Panthers’ first lead of the half at 54-53 with 8:59 remaining. George emerged as the playmaking engine with 16 points, seven assists, and two steals, while Chase Foster contributed 20 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Pittsburgh’s rebounding advantage was decisive, outrebounding Buffalo 50-27 and outscoring the Bulls 48-16 in the second half to seal the win.
For Buffalo (0-2), the loss highlights a struggle to contain Pitt’s interior force, with Drew Steffe leading the effort with 15 points, four assists, and three steals. Syracuse transfer J.J. Starling added 13 points, but the Bulls could not match the Panthers’ second-half intensity. This victory solidifies Pitt’s start to the season and underscores the immediate impact of Ndongo’s arrival, proving he is a game-changing asset capable of dictating the pace and outcome of high-stakes matchups.
Source: Yahoo Sports
