California Golden Bears Triumph Over SMU Mustangs
In a tightly contested matchup on Wednesday evening, the California Golden Bears narrowly triumphed over the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs with a final score of 73-69 at home in Berkeley, California.
Key Performances
Justin Pippen proved to be the standout player, particularly in the second half, where he contributed 19 of his total 24 points. With just under four minutes left in the game, Pippen sparked a pivotal 10-2 run, scoring six points to help California establish a 64-58 lead.
However, SMU’s Corey Washington mounted a comeback, notching nine points in quick succession, including two three-pointers, allowing his team to briefly take the lead at 67-64 with less than two minutes on the clock.
In response, John Camden of California calmly converted two crucial free throws, setting the stage for Pippen’s decisive jump shot.
Down the stretch, Pippen remained composed, hitting all four of his attempted free throws, pushing the Golden Bears ahead 72-69 with just 12 seconds remaining.
As the clock dwindled, SMU’s Jermaine O’Neal Jr. had an opportunity to tie the game with a three-point attempt, but it failed to find the net. California’s Lee Dort sealed the victory by hitting another free throw, bringing his team’s total to 73.
Team Contributions
Despite struggling from beyond the arc, making only 2 of 10 attempts, Pippen managed 8 baskets out of 19 attempts from the floor overall, while going 6 for 7 at the free-throw line. His performance was complemented by Chris Bell, who delivered an impressive shooting display, hitting four 3-pointers for a total of 20 points. Camden and Dort contributed as well, scoring 14 and 7 points respectively while Dort also snagged 10 rebounds.
For SMU, Boopie Miller and Corey Washington each led their scoring efforts with 15 points, and Jaron Pierre Jr. followed closely with 14 points. Samet Yigitoglu also made his mark with 11 points. The first half ended with California ahead 38-33, thanks in part to Bell’s contributions and Miller’s early performance for SMU, who accounted for eight points before halftime.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, SMU will be facing Stanford on Saturday, while California is set to host Pittsburgh on the same day. This victory improves California’s record to 20-8, maintaining a tight battle for playoff positioning in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
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