Men's Basketball INSTA-RECAP: Cal Loses in 2OT to Butler

Cal comes up short in epic battle in Indianapolis

Cal battled for 50 minutes, but ran out of steam in the second overtime and lost to the Butler 97-90.

Cal started off hot, and held an 11 point lead early in the game. Jaylon Tyson tweaked his ankle near the 15 minute mark, and missed the next 10 minutes of the game as his ankle was attended to. Butler was able to close the gap down to 3, as Cal led 37-34 going into halftime.

Butler controlled most of the second half, and had an 11-point lead at the 6:54 mark, 66-55. Cal outscored the Bulldogs 18-7 the rest of the way. Jalen Cone had three 3-pointers in that stretch, most notably a second chance 3-pointer with 3 seconds left to tie the game 73-73.

In the first overtime, the team traded baskets. Butler opened a 4-point lead 81-77 with 1:58 left. Jalen Cone would hit two 3-pointers over the next 90 seconds, giving Cal an 81-83 lead with :25 left. Butler’s Jahmyl Telfort made a short range basket with :11 left, tying the game. Jaylon Tyson could not convert a layup in traffic with :03 left, and the period ended 83-83.

Butler dominated the second overtime. Grant Newell fouled with 3:23 left, leaving Cal without a strong defensive presence. After that, Butler outscored Cal 10-5.

Fardaws Aimaq had 24 points and 16 rebounds. Keonte Kennedy added 23 points and Jalen Cone had 20. Jaylon Tyson was scoreless in the first half after hurting his ankle. He appeared hampered by it throughout the game, and also took a hard hit to his hip on a foul with driving to the basket early in the second half. He finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds.

Cal’s next game is against Ole Miss in San Antonio, next Saturday at 4:30pm.