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Heartbreak for Cal: Buzzer beater misses in 78-75 defeat
11 Jan
Summary
- Cal lost to Virginia Tech 78-75 after a missed game-tying shot.
- An unforced Cal turnover with under five seconds sealed their fate.
- Cal faces tough home games against Duke and North Carolina next.
The California Golden Bears fell to Virginia Tech 78-75 in a close contest on Saturday afternoon. The game's outcome was sealed by an unforced Cal turnover with less than five seconds remaining, preventing the Bears from securing a potential game-tying three-point shot at the buzzer. Cal's road struggles continued as they slipped to an 0-3 record away from home.
Despite playing two centers concurrently for significant portions of the game, which proved effective in battling Virginia Tech's frontcourt and securing a six-point lead late, Cal ultimately faltered in the final minute. Key free throws by Virginia Tech and missed opportunities by Cal in the closing seconds proved decisive. The Bears' center Milos Ilic made two crucial free throws to narrow the deficit to one point earlier in the final minute.
Cal's upcoming schedule features highly anticipated home games against No. 6 Duke on Wednesday and No. 17 North Carolina on Saturday. The team's forward Rytis Petraitis has missed ten consecutive games since November 25, with his return status uncertain. The Bears finished 19-for-21 from the free-throw line, while Virginia Tech shot 27-for-31.
