Cal Outlasts Miami in a Gritty, Back-and-Forth Battle That Could Define Their Season
Saturday’s ACC showdown between Cal and Miami was one of those games that doesn’t just test a team’s talent-it tests their will. And for a Cal squad that’s been teetering on the NCAA Tournament bubble, this was the kind of gut-check win that could carry weight come Selection Sunday.
From the opening tip, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for either side. The early minutes played out like a chess match with a shot clock-both teams trading buckets, neither giving an inch.
Miami came in with a stronger conference record, but Cal wasn’t about to let that dictate the narrative. They’ve made a habit this season of hanging tough with top-tier ACC opponents, even if they haven’t always closed the deal.
This time, they did.
Despite Miami shooting a scorching 69% from the field early on, Cal managed to keep pace, largely thanks to Chris Bell’s pair of early threes. The Bears shot a respectable 46% in that stretch, and by the first media timeout, they trailed by just three. Efficiency wasn’t the issue-execution was.
When Miami’s Shelton Henderson took a breather midway through the first half, the Hurricanes turned to Donaldson to keep the offense humming. He responded with a deep three, but Cal answered with a 6-0 run, punctuated by a strong and-one finish from Justin Pippen. That sequence tied the game at 22 and sparked a stretch where Cal began to dictate the tempo.
From there, the Bears started leaning into their defensive identity. They weren’t giving Miami the kind of contact that leads to whistles, and the Canes’ aggressive drives were met with disciplined contests instead of fouls.
The result? Turnovers.
Cal turned Miami over repeatedly, converting those mistakes into nine points off turnovers in the first half alone, compared to just two for the Hurricanes.
By halftime, the game had settled into a slugfest. Cal had managed to drag Miami’s red-hot shooting back down to earth.
The Canes still held a slight edge in the paint-24 points to Cal’s 14-but the Bears had done enough to keep it close, trailing by just one at the break. It was the kind of first half where every possession felt like a mini-battle, and both teams knew they were in for a 40-minute war.
The second half picked up right where the first left off. Miami quickly reclaimed the lead, only for Cal to snatch it back.
The game saw its seventh and eighth lead changes in the opening minutes of the half, and neither side was blinking. That is, until Miami strung together a 6-0 run just past the 12-minute mark, building a nine-point cushion-the largest lead of the game for either team.
That run could’ve broken Cal. Instead, it woke them up.
The Bears started getting to the line, chipping away at the deficit. But their inability to hit the offensive glass-and a cold spell from three-kept them from fully closing the gap.
Too many possessions ended with a missed three and a scramble to get back on defense before Miami could punish them in transition. And when the free throws stopped falling at a high clip, things looked dicey.
Then came the drought. Miami went over three minutes without a field goal, and Cal took full advantage.
Dai Dai Ames, who had a relatively quiet game by the box score, came up with a few massive plays when they mattered most. Two clutch free throws.
A corner three. Just like that, Cal had the lead again-their first in over nine minutes.
And then there was Manyiel Dut. His stat line won’t jump off the page-2 points, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls in 7 minutes-but his lone basket was a game-changer.
A timely putback that helped seal the deal and swing momentum firmly in Cal’s favor. It’s the kind of contribution that doesn’t show up in highlight reels but wins you games in February.
Even with the lead, Cal had to sweat it out. Dorsey, usually reliable at the stripe, missed a pair of free throws late that gave Miami a window.
But when Henderson-who had been getting to the rim all night-missed a driving layup in the final seconds, it was Cal’s Jaylon Camden who secured the rebound and the win. Fitting, really, considering this was Camden’s best offensive performance in a Cal uniform.
This wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch. But it was gritty, resilient, and exactly the kind of win that can shift a season’s trajectory.
Cal didn’t just hang with a top ACC team-they finished the job. And if they keep stacking performances like this, they won’t be on the bubble for long.