INSTA-RECAP: Cal beats USC 83-77 in OT

Aimaq scored 15 points and snagged 20 rebounds in the hard-earned win

The previous homegame against Stanford featured a raucous crowd of 8,100 loud and engaged fans. For the final homegame tonight against the other snobbish private school, Haas was sold out. It is the first sellout since a January 2017 victory by the Cuonzo Martin-led Bears over Stanford. The official attendance total was 11,801. Not bad for a Wednesday night 8pm game between two teams in the bottom half of the standings. The fans targeted USC’s Bronny James, whose dad Lebron James sat courtside for the entire game.

Cal starts off executing strongly and settles into a good offensive rhythm. With 10:37 left in the first half, Cal held a 20-16 lead. Solid offensive execution from both teams, Cal just made two more shots. The pick-n-roll is working Aimaq already has 10 points, Tyson has 8.

The teams exchange baskets. The refs are letting them play, letting most contact go. Jalen Cone scores 12 straight points during a 3 minute stretch, and Cal extends their lead to 36-25 with 4 minutes left in the first half.

USC answers with 5 straight points in less than 30 seconds, prompting Mark Madsen to call a timeout. He is the maddest I have ever seen him this year. Aimaq scores 4 points on consecutive slam dunks. A Cone-to-Newell alley oop and slam gets the entire crowd on their feet. USC calls a timeout. With one minute left, the lead is back up to 11, 42-31. It would stay that score going into halftime.

USC had no consistency on either end of the floor. Vincent Iwuchukwu was 3-of-4 shooting, successfully posting up Gus Larson and Fardaws Aimaq. He would only get 10 minutes of playing time as USC used 11 different player in the first half.

Cal started the second half on a 5-0 run, including outrebounding USC 5-1 during this stretch. USC calls a timeout to regroup. The teams exchanged baskets, and at the 15-minute mark Cal led 51-39.

Jaylon Tyson takes a break and sits out for several minutes. Cal went cold, and predictable on offense, including a shot clock violation with Cal not being able to get a shot attempt off as they passed around the perimeter.

USC could not take advantage. During this stretch, Bronny James and Kobe Johnson missed 4 straight free throws, and Kobe Johnson would miss an easy layup. At the 12-minute timeout Cal led 51-42.

Isaiah Collier would make a 3-point play, and suddenly it’s a 2 possession game. Jaylon Tyson answered with an NBA-depth three pointer, and Jalen Celestine and Keonte Kennedy added a couple exciting baskets. USC makes a bit of

At the 8-minute mark, Cal leads USC 58-49. Isaiah Collier has 6 points over the most recent stretch, as USC puts a dent into what had been double-digit lead for the Bears.

Isaiah Collier continued to be a force. He has two steals during a stretch where he scored 7 straight points for the Trojans. USC cut the lead to three points, 61-58 with 4 minutes left in the game.

Tyson and Cone hit back-to-back 3 pointers for some breathing room, but USC would answer with buckets from Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis. Cal leads 67-66 with 43 seconds left and the ball. Madsen calls a timeout to diagram what he wants to run.

Jaylon Tyson misses a contested layup, and Aimaq cannot convert a rebound. Isaiah Collier has a breakaway layup, and is fouled by Jalen Celestine. Collier can only make 1 free throw, and its 67-67 with 27 seconds left.

Coach Madsen lets them play it out - no timeout. USC plays tight defense and Tyson’s last second 3-pointer is off the mark. We’re going to overtime.

Teams traded baskets and foul shots early on. Isaiah Collier continued to be a force. But he could only make 1 foul shot and the games was tied 72-all with 1:58 left.

Jalen Celestine made an NBA-length 3-point shot late in the shot clock, giving Cal a 75-72 lead with 1:28 left. Jalen Cone would hit a corner 3, and DJ Rodman would answer with his own 3. Cal led 78-77 with 36 seconds left and possession.

USC would foul quickly. Keonte Kennedy would make his two free throws, and Celestine would make 3 of 4 down the stretch. USC could not score in the last 30 seconds, and Cal escapes with a hard-earned 83-77 win.

Right after the game, a hoarse Coach Madsen grabbed the mic and thanked “THE BEST FANS IN THE COUNTRY”.

Fardaws Aimaq finished 15 points and 20 rebounds. As a team, Cal outrebounded USC 54-27. Jaylon Tyson added 27 points, and Jalen Cone had 20. Even with overtime, it was a smal rotation for the Bears. Cal’s starters played 195 out of 225 total gametime minutes.

In the postgame comments, Jalen Cone, Jaylon Tyson and coach Madsen all praised the crowd and the atmosphere. They specifically credited the crowd for disrupting USC’s foul shots. Coach Madsen called it a huge home court advantage, and called the “Haas of Pain” a hostile (Haas-tile) environment for visiting teams.

Let’s hope it keeps up on Saturday against UCLA.