Cal Rallies Late but Falls Just Short at Florida State, 63-61
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - California came to play in Tallahassee, but in a game defined by swings, surges, and second-half grit, the Bears’ comeback effort fell just short in a 63-61 road loss to Florida State.
Justin Pippen led the charge with a career night from deep, drilling four 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 19 points. It was a gutsy performance by a Cal team that clawed back from a 15-point hole, even briefly taking the lead late in the second half, only to see it slip away in the final moments.
The Bears now sit at 15-6 overall and 3-5 in ACC play, while Florida State improves to 9-12 and 2-6 in conference action.
A Game of Runs
This one started fast and stayed unpredictable. Both teams traded early threes, with FSU hitting first before Pippen and freshman Dai Dai Ames answered to knot things at 6-6. Then came a Cal burst - an 8-0 run in under a minute, sparked by Ames and capped by back-to-back triples from Chris Bell.
But just when it looked like the Bears might seize control, the Seminoles responded with a run of their own. Florida State rattled off eight unanswered, and after a 7-0 surge later in the half, they built a 36-23 lead heading into the break.
At halftime, Cal was shooting just 32.1% from the field, while FSU was a touch better at 41.2%. The Bears had gone cold over the final stretch of the half, scoring just one field goal in the last four minutes.
Second-Half Surge
The Seminoles pushed their lead to 41-27 early in the second half, but that’s when Cal started to dig in. Milos Ilic - making his first start as a Bear - got it going with a putback, and John Camden followed with a three. Ames added a finish in the lane, and suddenly the Bears were back within striking distance.
Cal kept chipping away. Camden and Pippen hit timely threes, and a three-point play from DeJuan Campbell helped set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Pippen's deep three with just over six minutes left cut the deficit to one, and after another bucket from the sophomore guard, Cal found itself in front - 59-58 with 3:45 to play. It was their first lead since the early minutes of the first half.
But Florida State didn’t flinch. The Seminoles edged back ahead, 62-60, with three minutes left.
Cal had its chances - including a clean look from deep in the final seconds - but couldn’t find the game-winner. FSU hit one of two free throws with under 10 seconds remaining, and the Bears’ last shot missed the mark, sealing a narrow loss on the road.
Standouts and Stats
Pippen was the clear offensive engine for Cal, notching his 17th double-digit scoring game of the season. His four made threes were a new career best. Ames added 11 points - his 18th game in double figures - and Bell chipped in 13, continuing his consistent scoring stretch.
Ilic made the most of his first start, pulling down a season-high 11 rebounds and giving the Bears some much-needed presence on the glass.
Despite hitting 10 threes as a team, Cal was outscored 32-14 in the paint - a key difference in a game that came down to just two points. The Bears shot 34.5% from the field overall, while Florida State finished at 36.5%. It wasn’t the cleanest offensive game, but it was competitive, physical, and tight all the way through.
Looking Ahead
Next up, Cal heads to Coral Gables for its first-ever matchup at Miami, set for Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. After a tough road loss like this, the Bears will be looking to bounce back and steal one on the road before returning home.
This one will sting - especially after battling all the way back - but there’s no question this Cal team has fight. And as ACC play heats up, that resilience is going to matter.