Cal Bears Upset Attempt Foiled by Late Virginia Comeback

For the second straight year, the Cal Bears were minutes away from an upset over the Virginia Cavaliers, and for the second straight year, they fell short.

More from Golden Gate Sports

With a school record under their belts, the Cal Bears were back at it again on Wednesday night. Riding a 27-game winning streak at home, the Bears welcomed the Virginia Cavaliers to Haas Pavilion for their toughest test of the season to this point.

Cal was looking for revenge against Virginia after a disheartening loss in Charlottesville last season. The Bears held a late lead against the then-fifth-ranked Cavaliers, but couldn’t hold on in the final minutes before eventually falling in overtime by a point.

Virginia, now ranked 12th overall, represented the end of the non-conference season for the Golden Bears, who entered the game with a 9-2 record.

Cal entered the game as one of the best defensive teams in the nation, but Virginia guard London Perrantes had no issues early in the contest. The California-native was on fire to open up, hitting from mid-range and driving to the rim. He scored the Cavaliers’ first nine points of the game, propelling them to an early 9-5 lead.

The Bears’ offensive attack was much more spread out. Their first four buckets were scored by four different players, capped off by an athletic, spinning lay-in/hook shot by Roger Moute a Bidias to tie the game at nine.

After the early onslaught, the defenses settled in for both sides. Shots were hard to come by, but Jabari Bird was able to tie the game up by finishing an old-fashioned three-point play, and Ivan Rabb put the Bears in front for the first time with two free throws. With five minutes left in the first half, Cal led 17-15.

Virginia tied the game up just a little later, but after a couple minutes of back-and-forth defensive stops, the Bears jumped back ahead on a couple more Rabb freebies. Back-and-forth they went again, with Virginia tying it up and Cal jumping back ahead twice more before the half. Virginia was able to tie the game up with a free throw, and the buzzer sounded on a 22-22 deadlock after 20 minutes.

As advertised, the defenses were stout in the first half. Virginia shot just 32.3 percent, while Cal only hit on 30.4 percent of their shots. But immediately out of the break, Charlie Moore hit a three-pointer to put Cal back ahead. It was only the second three made by either team, coupled with a Bird make. Moore finished at the rim on the next possession to put Cal up by five.

After Cal went ahead by six, Virginia went on a nine-point run to jump back in front. Virginia kept the pressure on, extending their lead to nine. Cal wasn’t deterred by the long run.

The Bears kept moving the ball and finding good looks, going on an 8-0 run to bring Virginia’s lead down to one and getting the crowd at Haas back on their feet. As Virginia dealt with foul trouble, Rabb took advantage, hitting two free throws to put Cal back in front with just under 10 to play.