INSTA-RECAP: Cal Fails to Execute Late, Loses to ASU 71-69
The Sun Devils overcome a 16-point deficit to grab the win
This one was frustrating.
Cal had a 15-point lead at the 9:40 mark of the second half. ASU turned up their defensive intensity and Cal committed multiple turnovers against ASU’s press. ASU tied it at 62-62 with 3:49 left. It was back and forth for the next couple minutes.
In this tightly contested game with under 90 seconds left, the following sequences took place.
With 1:15 left, Cal leads 67-66. Jalen Cone brings the ball up and rushes an ill-advised 3-point shot. Miss.
With :43 seconds left, Cal is down 68-67. ASU takes a bad shot. Fardaws Aimaq is caught ball-watching and not covering his defensive assignment, Alonzo Gaffney. Gaffney gathers the ball and easily slams it home, extending the lead to 70-67.
With :36 left, Cal is down 70-67. Under no pressure, Jaylon Tyson makes a bad pass to Jalen Celestine on the wing that rolls out of bounds. Turnover.
Jaylon Tyson got the ball with 4 seconds left and had a one-third court shot to try to win, but the shot was no good. And Cal loses a game they should have won.
“This one hurts.” Coach Madsen said after the game. Indeed it does.
This team does not have a point guard, and it shows. Tyson tasked with having to do way too much.
It’s getting hard to want to tune into this team.