BERKELEY, Calif. — On Saturday night, Syracuse triumphed over California with a final score of 75-66, thanks to Lucas Taylor’s impressive 19 points and J.J. Starling’s contribution of 18 points.

This victory marked a significant turnaround for Syracuse (10-12, 4-7 ACC), ending a challenging three-game losing streak.

For California (11-11, 4-7), both Jeremiah Wilkinson and Jovan Blacksher Jr. delivered commendable performances, each scoring 20 points. Rytis Petraitis supported the team with 13 points and secured eight rebounds.

The game began with a strong start from Syracuse, as Starling scored two consecutive layups, followed by a jumper from Taylor and a 3-pointer by Elijah Moore, quickly establishing a 9-0 lead within the first three minutes. The Orange maintained control throughout, and Chris Bell further built on their momentum with a score in the paint, followed by a 3-pointer, culminating in a significant 10-1 run that allowed Syracuse to lead by 13 points with about nine minutes remaining in the first half.

California fought back during the second half, managing to get within seven points on two separate occasions by executing a couple of 11-0 runs. Petraitis was instrumental in narrowing the gap, scoring seven points during a 9-3 run that prompted a 67-61 score when Blacksher made a layup with just 1:14 left on the clock. However, the Bears ultimately could not reduce the deficit any further.

The first half was particularly challenging for California, who struggled with a mere 17% shooting rate (4 of 23) from the field and only managed to convert 2 of 14 (14%) from beyond the arc, leading to a 40-23 disadvantage at halftime. The team faced tough stretches, including a dry spell of over seven minutes without a field goal before the break.

Notably, Andrej Stojakovic, California’s leading scorer averaging 18.9 points per game — ranking third in the ACC — was absent for the fourth game in a row.

Looking ahead, Syracuse will return home to face No. 2 Duke on Wednesday, while California is set to host N.C. State on the same day.