In a nail-biter at Haas Pavilion, the Bears saw their NIT journey come to an abrupt halt, surrendering a 19-point lead to St. Joseph’s in a 76-75 heartbreaker. Despite Cal’s dominance early on, the Hawks’ relentless surge in the second half flipped the script, leaving Bears fans stunned.
St. Joe’s entered the matchup riding high, having won 8 of their last 9 games, including a first-round victory over Colorado State. Yet, the Bears seemed poised for victory until the tide turned dramatically.
Cal head coach Mark Madsen acknowledged the Hawks’ tenacity post-game. “St. Joseph’s played an outstanding second half,” Madsen remarked, highlighting the challenge his team faced.
The Bears were without John Camden, a key perimeter threat, due to a knee injury, and initially struggled to find their offensive rhythm. It wasn’t until Dejuan Campbell sank a three-pointer that Cal got on the scoreboard, trailing 7-0 early on.
St. Joe’s aggressive start saw them build a 16-8 lead, but Cal responded with an 8-point burst, featuring free throws from Semetri Carr and Dai Dai Ames, plus back-to-back threes from Sammie Yeanay and Carr, tying the game at 16.
The back-and-forth continued as Jaiden Glover-Toscano, who racked up 24 points, drained a three, only for the Bears to seize their first lead with a Lee Dort dunk and a Carr putback. Cal closed the first half strong, with Ames’ buzzer-beater sending them into halftime up 41-33.
Cal extended their lead with an 11-2 run to open the second half, fueled by threes from Chris Bell and Ames, the latter surpassing the 1,000 career points milestone. Bell’s hot hand pushed the lead to 19, but St. Joe’s wasn’t done.
The Hawks clawed back with a 26-13 run, highlighted by Glover-Toscano’s deep three and a layup, cutting the Bears’ lead to four. Bell’s jumper briefly steadied Cal, but a late surge from St. Joe’s, including a Justice Ajogbor slam and an Austin Williford three, brought the Hawks within one.
Derek Simpson’s three-pointer then gave St. Joe’s their first lead of the half, 76-75, with under two minutes remaining.
Despite several opportunities, including an Ames layup attempt at the buzzer, the Bears couldn’t reclaim the lead. Glover-Toscano’s block sealed the deal for the Hawks.
Reflecting on the final moments, Madsen explained his decision to forgo a timeout after a critical rebound. “We had an advantage,” he noted, opting for a fast break rather than allowing St. Joe’s defense to set.
St. Joe’s comeback was underscored by their defensive prowess, forcing turnovers and tough shots from the Bears. “This is what the group has done over the last two and a half months,” said Hawks head coach Steve Donahue, praising his team’s defensive resolve.
Despite the loss, Ames expressed optimism about returning next season, while Madsen lauded his team’s achievements, marking Cal’s first 20-win season in a decade. Bell capped his Cal career with a standout 23-point performance, shooting 9-17 from the field and 5-12 from beyond the arc.
The Hawks improved to 24-11, while the Bears concluded their season at 22-12, a campaign that rekindled hope and excitement for the future of Cal basketball.