The California Golden Bears (3-28, 2-18 Pac-12) closed their regular season with a 66-69 loss to the Oregon State Beavers (11-20, 5-15 Pac-12) in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday night.
The defeat, California’s 15th loss in a row, was particularly heartbreaking, as the Golden Bears led most of the game. The visiting team started the game with intensity, securing a 15-3 run and going into halftime with a 36-28 scoreline.
The Golden Bears’ lead stretched to 16 points after back-to-back three-point shots from guard Joel Brown and forward Grant Newell with 3:44 remaining in the first half. Brown scored a career-high 22 points, while Newell had 10 on the evening.
But Oregon State regrouped after halftime and rallied to sneak away with the win.
Oregon State first-year forward Glenn Taylor, Jr., scored a career-high 28 points, with 17 of those points in the second half. With 12:31 remaining in the game, he downed four straight from the charity stripe to bring California’s lead to just a single point. Then, Beaver Jordan Pope made a jumper in the paint and a free throw to make it 52-50 for Oregon State.
Indeed, the difference between the two sides was the freebies from the line. California shot 46% (22 of 48) from the field, besting Oregon State’s 43% (20 of 47), but the Beavers sunk 83% of their free-throw attempts. In contrast, the Golden Bears completed 68% of their foul shots.
“We did it all except the last stop,” said California head coach Mark Fox in the post-game press conference. “I’m just really disappointed for everybody, for today, and really, the season.”
California ends its season with a 3-28 record, the worst in history.
Coach Fox added: “That responsibility goes on the coach. It’s not the players’ fault.”
The Golden Bears will play at least one more game this season. California travels to Las Vegas next week as the 12th seed in the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
I feel gutted for Joel who played his heart out. But just too many holes in the defense, too many empty possessions. For a half we looked like a competent basketball team, and then slowly let them back in, and couldn't execute down the stretch.
So the football team, which wasn’t very good, won more games than the basketball team.
Jim Knowlton is really destroying Cal Athletics.