Cal Men’s Basketball Pulls Out Gutsy 72-71 Win Over Notre Dame

Superior free throw shooting and ball security help the Golden Bears outlast the Fighting Irish

Photo Credit: Don Collier (Doncollierphoto.com)

There was an uncertain air around Cal Men’s Basketball going into tonight’s game, as the Bears were coming off a rough performance vs. Louisville in their first night of ACC play after going 12-1 out of conference. Last year’s bout with Notre Dame went to quadruple overtime, and tonight’s match up proved to be the same kind of fight.

The first half saw the Fighting Irish come out of the gate with energy and intensity, holding a seven point lead for the vast majority of the first half, stymieing the Bears on offense, who shot for just 32% for the first leg of the contest, going a worrisome 3-17 from beyond the arc.

What might have been a runaway game was kept in check by the difference from the free throw line, where Notre Dame went 2-8 before halftime. Conversely, the Irish could not keep their own fouling in check in the first half, allowing the Bears to stick around in a game they were being out performed in. A well timed three pointer from TT Carr drew Cal within four going into the break. Additionally, ball security played a key role in keeping the game within reach, with point guards Carr and Pippen playing a combined 45 minutes without a single turnover.

After the game, Coach Madsen remarked that the team had some “brutal practices, some brutal film sessions” after the brutal loss earlier in the week. That work was made most apparent in the second half, as the Bears steadied themselves, finding the extra pass and getting more clean opportunities on offense, particularly beyond the arc, where they went 8-22, which was just enough to get the job done.

Down four points with less than a minute to play, the Bears took to fouling and effectively shooting from beyond the arc for three possessions. Dai Dai Ames landed the final dagger with five seconds remaining, followed by a the hotly contested trip to the foul line, which put the Bears over the top. Notre Dame could not muster a response in the 2.5 seconds remaining.