In a thrilling mid‑week college basketball matchup at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers overcame a 12‑point hole to beat the Butler Bulldogs 76‑64. The victory marks Pittsburgh’s fourth consecutive win, improving the Panthers’ record to 4‑0 this season.
Key performances
Senior guard Jonathan Powell was the catalyst, scoring 17 points, including a crucial three‑pointer that helped spark the Panthers’ comeback. Fellow senior Chase Foster added 15 points and executed a three‑point play that further shifted momentum. Forward Bethea contributed another three‑pointer during a decisive 13‑0 run that gave Pittsburgh a 61‑54 lead with 7:25 remaining.
Supporting the effort, Baye Ndongo tallied 13 points and A’lahn Sumler chipped in 10. Naithan George posted a well‑rounded stat line with 11 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals, showcasing his all‑court impact.
Butler’s effort
Butler’s leading scorer was senior forward Eduardo Klafke, who posted 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Asim Djulovic added 11 points for the Bulldogs. Early in the game, Klafke’s three‑pointer gave Butler a 10‑point edge, and a late first‑half spurt pushed the Bulldogs to a 42‑30 lead, their largest margin of the night.
Despite the early advantage, Butler struggled with shooting efficiency, converting just 33 percent (21 of 60) from the field and a disappointing 21 percent (7 of 34) from beyond the arc.
Game flow
The Panthers opened the second half with a burst of energy, stringing together a 13‑0 run that flipped the scoreboard. Powell’s three‑pointer and Foster’s three‑point play were pivotal moments, while Bethea’s long‑range shot capped the surge. Pittsburgh maintained the lead for the remainder of the contest, never allowing Butler to close the gap to fewer than five points.
Both teams displayed strong defensive effort, but Pittsburgh’s ability to execute in transition and capitalize on open looks proved decisive.
Looking ahead
Next up, Pittsburgh will host Villanova on Tuesday, aiming to continue its unbeaten start. Butler, meanwhile, welcomes Western Carolina on Tuesday, seeking to rebound from the loss and improve its conference standing.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
