CHARLOTTE -- The North Carolina football team saw its season end with a loss in the Meineke Car Care Bowl for the second straight year, as the Tar Heels fell to No. 17 Pittsburgh 19-17 at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.

UNC (8-5), which lost to West Virginia 31-30 in the 2008 bowl game, took the lead at the end of the third quarter. But Pittsburgh (10-3) responded in the fourth quarter with a nearly nine-minute drive that was capped by the go-ahead field goal.

The Panthers were led by freshman running back Dion Lewis, who rushed for 159 yards and one touchdown.

UNC receiver Greg Little, a Hillside High alum, had seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tar Heels.

"Our team played hard against a ranked opponent," said Little, whose team ends the season on a two-game losing streak, including a loss to rival N.C. State. "They were expected to win the game, and we came out and gave them a hard fight."

-- BRIANA GORMAN