Cal’s Road Showdown Ends in Heartbreak Against Pitt

PITTSBURGH (AP) – The California men’s basketball team was unable to maintain a 16-point lead in the first half and succumbed 86-74 to Pitt during ACC play on Wednesday afternoon.

Jaland Lowe achieved 27 points and provided eight assists, while Cameron Corhen contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, guiding Pitt (11-2, 2-0 ACC) to its 14th consecutive home victory at the Petersen Events Center, marking its longest streak since 2013-14.

The Golden Bears (7-6, 0-2) were ahead by 16 points with 4:19 remaining in the first half before missing their final six attempts of the half, resulting in the lead being narrowed to 42-38.

 

Lowe scored two consecutive baskets to give Pitt a 55-48 edge with 15:02 left in the second half. The Panthers went over six minutes without a field goal until Guillermo Diaz Graham hit a corner 3-pointer at the 7:54 mark. Pitt endured five straight misses during this shooting slump yet converted 11 of 13 free throws to remain ahead.

 

Pitt maintained a minimum six-point lead during the last eight minutes. Cal struggled, making just 1 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc in the second half.

 

Jeremiah Wilkinson led the Bears with 24 points, achieving his third 20-point game of the season, along with six rebounds. Andrej Stojakovic added 19 points, with 10 coming from the charity stripe, and Rytis Petraitis netted 11. After returning from a groin injury, DJ Campbell was put in the starting lineup for Joshua Ola-Joseph (illness), scoring 11 points with three assists and two steals.

 

UP NEXT

The Bears will travel to Clemson, South Carolina, to clash with the Tigers on Saturday in a game airing nationally on ESPN2. The tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET at Littlejohn Coliseum.

 

SUPPORT THE BEARS

Tickets for the 2024-25 season can be acquired by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets, calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or emailing goldstandard@berkeley.edu. Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men’s Basketball Excellence Initiative or the California Legends Collective.

 

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