The Fresno State men’s basketball team will return home Monday in search of a new winning streak.

The Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season Tuesday to the Pittsburgh Panthers 75-54.

The Panthers, who are in their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, won their first game of the season against Savannah State University. It was the first time ever that Fresno State and Pittsburgh faced each other.

Freshman guard Paul Watson led the Bulldogs in scoring (18) and tied for rebounds (five) in the game. Sophomore guard Marvelle Harris, who scored the first three points for Fresno State, played 31 minutes and tallied five points and two defensive rebounds. Cezar Guerrero had 10 points and a career-best seven assists.

Panthers center Talib Zanna was a big leader for his team. He finished the game with a double-double: 19 points and 10 rebounds, both the highest on the team. Forward Michael Young had nine rebounds (six offensive).

A weakness for the Pittsburgh offense was long-distance shooting. The Panthers were 0 for 11 in 3-pointers, but 15 of 21 (71.4 percent) in free throws.

Fresno State began the game with a six-point lead after 3-pointers by Harris and guard Cezar Guerrero. After, the Panthers stayed close behind the Bulldogs and took their first lead through a free throw by Jamel Artis with 10:17 left in the first half.

The Panthers kept the lead and had a 17-point lead at halftime. The Bulldogs played a closer matchup in the second half and only trailed by four points in the frame (40-36). Pittsburgh outmatched Fresno State in free throws (76.9 percent to 62.5) but fell short from the field (42.9 percent to 44.4).

The loss ends the two-game road trip to begin the 2013 season. The first game, at UC Irvine, went to overtime. Fresno State senior guard Allen Huddleston made a game-winning 3-point jump shot to give the Bulldogs the 98-97 victory.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs will return home to host the Cal State Stanislaus Warriors.