Chase Foster sets Pitt freshman record in opening win

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The focus may have been more on the 11 transfer players, but it was a traditional freshman setting a record as the Panthers won the season opener 95-57 over Rider Monday night at the Petersen Events Center.

6’9” forward Chase Foster finished with 23 points (18 in the first half) of his first college game beating the record of Ricardo Greer, who happens to be in his first season at a Pitt associate head coach.

“It feels good, I know the work I put in every day and being able to come out here today and show that means a lot,” Foster said. “I didn’t know I broke the record until Coach Greer told me.”

Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said from a size and ability standpoint, Foster reminds him of some players he coached at Duke, but no one he’s coached at Pitt.

“Look, it’s been one game,” Capel said. “We know he’s going to have ups-and-downs, but we also know that he’s talented. He works. He wants to be good. He’s a really good dude. He’s hard on himself at times, sometimes can be too emotional. He’s learning how to work past that.”

Foster admitted he was nervous, first thing in the morning Monday he called his mom. The phone call after the game must have been sweet.

Pitt was able to run and a few of the stats showed it

• 26-0 fast break advantage
• 22-4 points off turnovers
• 21 assists to 10 turnovers
• Pitt had 13 steals

Junior transfer Jonathan Powell missed his first three-point attempt and then made six of his next seven.

“I haven’t played a legit basketball game in months, seeing that first one go through, took everything off my mind,” Powell said. “I felt free.”

Stat showing

• Pitt shot 54% from 3 (14-26)
• Pitt outrebounded Rider 43-34
• Pitt had 45 bench points
• Rider shot 32% FG, 29% from 3 after making 3 of its first 4

Up next

Panthers host Buffalo on Thursday at 7, pregame starts at 6:30p with the Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove and Curtis Aiken on 93.7 The Fan.