Bears Narrowly Edged by Florida State, 63-61, After Coming Back from Down 15

The California Golden Bears lost, 63-61, to the Florida State Seminoles at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Fla. on Wednesday night in the second of a three game road-trip. The Bears were unable to build on the momentum from the Jan. 24 double-digit win against arch-rivals Stanford Cardinal.

Big man Lee Dort was out for the matchup so Milos Ilic started in his place as. Ilic has helped with ball movement this season. Beyond that, Coach Madsen kept the starters the same: Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden and Chris Bell.

Cal jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the first 10 minutes but the Seminoles came roaring back as they were able to take advantage of the size differential and score in the paint.

The game was close until about five minutes left in the first half. The Seminoles held a narrow lead but an extended Bears dryspell (the Bears made just one of seven field goals to close the half) combined with successful drives pushed the lead to six with three and a half minutes to go.

The 27-21 Florida State lead rapidly grew as Cal was unable to knock down mid-range jumpers (Camden went 1-5 from the field in the first period, Pippen went 1-4) and by the closing minute of the half the Seminoles led by 13 points. Ames and Bell were the offensive lifeblood in the first half as they had seven and 10 points, respectively.

Critically, the Bears had eight turnovers in the first period due in part to four Seminoles steals. Florida State had 10 points off turnovers in the first period.

Both squads were evenly matched in most other team stats except for points in the paint. Florida State had 16 compared to Cal’s 4.

Despite the deficit, the Bears continued fighting in the second half, cutting the lead to nine in the first few minutes. From there, the teams traded baskets with the Seminoles maintaining that nine point margin.

Florida State kept attacking the paint and, while Cal was strong on the glass and didn’t allow many second chance points, the Seminoles pressed their advantage.

The Bears would claw back to within six, only to be undone by a dunk or and-one on the other end. But, Cal kept fighting as Pippen and Bell found their stroke from three, respectively. The Bears had a few opportunities in transition under the 10 minute mark that they couldn’t capitalize on which proved costly later.

All things considered, with under eight minutes left Cal trailed by just six points, a surprising position given the double-digit deficit at halftime.

A methodical drive from DJ Campbell led to a Camden corner three to draw the Bears within two, 51-53.

Not to be outdone, the Seminoles got the hoop and the harm, but missed the free throw, 55-51. Pippen then nailed a three from the wing to pull Cal within three points after a bucket in the paint from Florida State big man Alex Steen.

Pippen and Camden bounced back impressively in the second period, combining for more than 20 points.

Under five minutes to go, DJ Campbell scored a reverse layup and sank the free throw to bring the Bears to within one point, closest since the first five minutes of the game. A Camden steal led to a Pippen layup to give the Bears a 59-58 lead. The glory was short-lived, however, as Robert McCray V scored a lay-in on the other end to put the Seminoles back up by one.

Florida State’s AJ Swinton had a chance to give the Seminoles a commanding, three point lead with under 45 seconds to go but missed both from the line. Nonetheless, Florida State led by one and held the ball with 31 seconds in the game. An offensive rebound off a missed three put Lajae Jones on the line with under 10 seconds left. He split the pair.

63-61 with one possession left. Ames drove down the wing, kicked to Pippen who had a decent three point attempt from the opposing wing, but missed. 63-61, Seminoles win. The Bears’ field goal and three point percentage were down (34 and 36 percent, respectively) but rebounded the ball fairly well, save for a couple untimely offensive boards allowed.

While Cal stormed back in the second, the first half deficit — precipitated by those eight turnovers — was too much to surmount.

This loss was tough in part because this was the Seminoles first ACC win at home this season; the Bears were coming off a monumental win and; despite trailing by double-digits for most of the first half, fought back to within one possession at the end of the game.