Jan 10 2009
Cal Bearly beats Huskies on road
It wasn’t pretty, but lucky for the Bears (15-2, 4-0 Pac-10), it didn’t have to be. In a game where Cal held the lead for only 27 seconds over three overtimes, it’s amazing that they ended up coming away with a victory on the road against the Washington Huskies (11-4, 2-1 Pac-10), 88-85.
It was a night of clutch moments for the Bears. With less than a minute in regulation and down by three, Jerome Randle nailed a three-pointer to tie the game sending it to its first overtime. In the middle of the first overtime, down by three again, Patrick Christopher hit a three of his own, tying the game and going to another overtime.
The end of the second overtime was even more incredible. Down by five with 33 seconds remaining, the Bears were able to work their way into a three-point deficit with nine seconds remaining and the ball. With five seconds left, Theo Robertson missed a three-point attempt, which was rebounded by freshman D.J. Seeley who put it back up for two and was fouled with only one second left. Down by one, with the game on the line, Seeley sank his free throw and the game went to a third overtime.
The third overtime proved to be the last needed. Down 85-83 with 28 seconds, Robertson drove the lane and hit his layup while being fouled on the play with 15 seconds remaining. With ice running through his veins, Robertson hit the free throw and Cal took their first lead since they had a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the game.
At 86-85, a missed jumper by Justin Dentmon with only four seconds remaining and a rebound by Patrick Christopher, sealed the game when he was fouled with only a second to go.
The Bears next play at the home of their bitter rival, Stanford, on January 17th.
