Insta-Recap: Cal Survives Furious UCSD Comeback in a 71-67 Win

From a 26-point lead to 3-point hole, Cal executes at the end to earn the victory

Cal opened the game leading 21-5 with lights out shooting and ball movement. At halftime, Cal led 44-27, with 14 assists on 18 made baskets. All the stats were impressive, and the UCSD Tritons had no answer.

Then the second half began.

UCSD came out after halftime with more energy, and their shooting percentages changed from bad to above-average. Cal did not have the same energy as they did in the first half, and their shooting regressed to 20% for the first ten minutes of the second half.

At the 12-minute mark, Cal held onto a narrow 50-48 lead. Over the next 4 minutes, UCSD would continue to shoot lights out, and scored 8 straight points to take a 58-55 lead with 7:19 left. UCSD’s Bryce Pope shot only 3-of-12 from 3-point range for the game, but his three makes were all in the crucial stretch where the game was up for grabs.

Cal would then go on an 10-3 run to retake the lead. 2 Keonte Kennedy free throws started it off. Jaylon Tyson had his trademark run, scoring 4 points and ending the run on a impressive alley-oop assist to Fardaws Aimaq. UCSD calls timeout with 1:42 left, with Cal holding onto a 65-61 lead.

The teams traded baskets, and UCSD would get to within 1 point after a layup by Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones made it 68-67 Cal with :22 left. Keonte Kennedy made 2 free throws, and Jalen Celestine made 1-of-2 at the end, to give Cal the final 71-67 win.

Fardaws Aimaq led Cal with 19 points and 10 assists. Jalen Cone added 15 points, and Jalen Celestine added 13.

Cal hosts #4 Arizona next Friday at Haas, to kick off Pac-12 conference play.