Cal battled again from 17 factors down with 11 1/2 minutes left at Stanford and tied the sport at 61-all when Andrej Stojakovic, in his return recreation to Maples Pavilion, transformed a drive and free throw with 42.1 seconds left.
The comeback died there.
Stanford middle Maxime Raynaud made two free throws with 32.6 seconds left to interrupt the tie and the Cardinal scored the sport’s closing 5 factors to safe a 66-61 victory.
“I used to be happy with how we competed, particularly within the final quarter-hour,” Cal coach Mark Madsen stated. “We’re very upset with the result. Stanford outplayed us. They made the performs that wanted to be made to win.”
Stojakovic, who performed his freshman 12 months at Stanford earlier than transferring to Cal final offseason, scored 9 of his 16 factors in the course of the rally. Freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson saved 13 of his 19 for the comeback attempt.
“It’s irritating digging a gap for ourselves like that within the first half,” Stojakovic stated. “Don’t get me unsuitable: I’m so happy with the blokes, the best way we dealt with the final 17 minutes.”
Cal (12-15, 5-11 ACC) misplaced its fourth straight recreation and out of the blue faces some urgency so as to safe qualification for the ACC event. The Bears are tied for 14th place and solely 15 groups earn spots within the ACC bracket.
Boston Faculty and North Carolina State each gained Saturday, bettering to 4-12 in convention play, only one recreation again of the Bears with 4 to play. Cal already has a win over NC State so it owns that potential tiebreaker. Boston Faculty visits Berkeley subsequent Saturday in a recreation that would have large penalties.
“The primary factor is simply defend our dwelling court docket,” Stojakovic stated. “We don’t have any incentive in addition to profitable. Handle dwelling, one recreation at a time. Now we have a tough highway journey to finish the 12 months after which prepare for the ACC event.”
Cal hosts SMU subsequent Wednesday earlier than taking part in BC three days later. The Bears shut out the common season with highway video games vs. Louisville and Notre Dame.
Down 47-30 after Aidan Cammann scored a layup with 11:24 to play, Cal switched its protection to a full-court press, hoping to knock Stanford (17-10, 9-7) off its rhythm.
“We used a number of completely different presses. It modified the complexion of the sport,” Madsen stated. “We did a pleasant job of attacking the rim — a few their guys fouled out. However give Stanford credit score. They made all of the performs when it counted.”
Specifically, the 7-foot-1 Raynaud delivered at large moments and scored 20 factors, even because the Bears usually used a double-team to restrict him to 5-for-16 taking pictures.
“He completely killed us at our place. We made a number of tweaks and changes defensively that simply modified the rhythm,” Madsen stated. “It’s a praise to him that each staff that performs Stanford actually has to have a look at Raynaud.”
Wilkinson shot simply 6 for 16 however added six rebounds and 5 steals. He drew 10 fouls, which contributed to Stanford level guards Jaylen Blakes and Benny Gealer each fouling out.
Stojakovic, who shot 4 for 11, grabbed 10 rebounds.
He stated this recreation didn’t really feel as emotional as his first recreation towards his former staff. “This time round, having seen the blokes as soon as already, it was a fairly regular away recreation,” he stated, simply as Raynaud, his former teammate, walked previous and gave him a pleasant kiss on the again of his neck.
Cal jumped out to a 7-0 lead after 3 1/2 minutes however Stanford managed a lot of the remainder of the primary half on the best way to a 28-22 lead on the break.
The Bears struggled to search out good pictures and have been 4 for 22 (18.2 %) via the sport’s first 14 minutes. With 3 minutes left within the half, Cal nonetheless had extra turnovers (8) than baskets (6).
Even so, Cal led till Chisom Okpara stole and ball and raced for a layup and an 11-10 lead with 10:33 left. Raynaud gave the Cardinal a little bit respiration room when he hit a 3-pointer 45 seconds later.
Stanford’s benefit reached 28-18 when Raynaud buried one other 3-pointer with 1:01 left within the half.
A driving layup by Stojakovic and a dunk by Lee Dort on an inbounds move from DJ Campbell with 2 seconds left acquired the Bears inside six factors earlier than intermission.
Cal completed the primary half at 31 % (9 for 29) from the sector, 1 for six from the 3-point arc and three for 7 from the free throw line. The Bears’ solely tangible benefit within the half was their 24-17 rebounding edge. They completed with a 42-35 rebounding margin.
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