Pitt Tops California 86-74 in ACC Matchup

The California Golden Bears suffered an 86-74 defeat against the Pittsburgh Panthers in their ACC matchup on New Year's Day, unable to maintain a 16-point lead in the first half. Jaland Lowe led Pitt with 27 points and 8 assists, while Cameron Corhen contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Panthers secure their 14th consecutive home win. California's Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 24 points, but the team struggled in the second half, hitting only 1 of 7 from beyond the arc and scoring just 6 points in the first seven minutes. Despite a strong start, the Golden Bears could not recover after allowing Pitt to outscore them 19-6 early in the second half. The Panthers improved to an 11-2 record, marking their best start since the 2016-17 season, while California's record fell to 7-6. The Golden Bears will look to bounce back in their upcoming game against Clemson.