California’s Commanding Victory Over Boston College
In a commanding performance, California’s Chris Bell poured in 22 points, including six 3-pointers, as the Golden Bears beat Boston College 86-75 on Saturday afternoon in Boston. This victory allowed Cal to break a two-game losing streak, having previously faced a heart-wrenching 107-100 double-overtime defeat against Syracuse.
Game Highlights
Throughout the game, California (recording 18 wins and 8 losses, with a 6-7 standing in the Atlantic Coast Conference) maintained control, never once yielding the lead. They built a significant advantage, leading by as much as 20 points during both halves. The team’s shooting was notable, finishing with an overall success rate of 56%, including a sharp 48% from beyond the arc, where they converted 14 of 29 attempts.
John Camden also shone for the Bears, contributing 15 points including four 3-pointers, while Dai Dai Ames matched that score, and Justin Pippen added 12. On the other hand, Boston College struggled with their performance, stumbling to a sixth consecutive loss. Fred Payne led the Eagles (with a record of 9-16 and 2-10 in conference play) by scoring 16 points. Chase Forte followed closely with 14 points, while Luka Toews and Jayden Hastings chipped in 12 each.
Key Moments
Despite a late surge with 4:18 left in the game where Toews hit a 3-pointer that initiated a quick 10-3 run, pulling BC within nine points at 80-71 with just over two minutes remaining, Camden quickly responded with a 3-pointer of his own, preventing any further threat from the Eagles.
The pivotal moment in the first half came as Cal orchestrated a decisive 19-8 run, punctuated by another 3 from Camden, establishing a commanding 20-point lead leading up to halftime. The Golden Bears entered the break ahead 43-28. In the second half, Camden extended California’s lead even further with another 3, bringing the score to 55-35 around the 16-minute mark.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, California is set to host rival Stanford next Saturday, while Boston College will travel to Florida State for their upcoming game.
This match underscores California’s potential as they aim to regain momentum in their season, while Boston College seeks to end its challenging streak as they face fierce competition moving forward.
