Cal certainly had its chances to put Boston College away Saturday afternoon, but it let the Eagles hang around and when the Bears made too many mistakes down the stretch they bowed to the Eagles, 64-60, in the Al Attles Classic at the Chase Center in San Francisco
Cal (6-6)) came out fast and took a 13-point lead in the first half. But they turned inexplicably cold both from the field and from the line and let BC claw its way back into it. Leading just 29-26 at the half, Cal would build the lead back up to 11, before another cold spell. BC led by 63-60 inside the final minute, and Kareem South missed a wide-open three-pointer to end Cal’s chances.
‘I thought we started the game very well,” head coach Mark Fox said. “I thought our defense was good, I thought our offense was effective. I thought we played unselfishly offensively.
“ We missed our free throws (6-for-13 in the first half) when we got to the line … and that opened a window for them in transition.”
Cal made its last field goal of the first half, a layin by Lars Thiemann with 7:43 still to play in the period. That came near the end of a 19-2 run that put Cal up.25-12. However, that is when the Bears turned cold and BC hitting threes and free throws closed the gap by halftime.
Cal was able to go up again, and a 10-2 run, had the Bears leading 48-37. But once again BC chipped away, then exploded for a 12-0 burst that put the Eagles ahead 56-52.
Matt Bradley, who led all scorers with 21 points, hit a layup that cut the margin to a pair. Ca had two chances to tie or take the lead but turned the ball over both times. Jared Hamilton put BC back up by four with two free throws with 3:02 to play.
The Bears final spurt tied it, Thiemann tipped in a miss, then grabbed a defensive rebound which led to Bradly’s layup at 1:53 and it was 58-all
But the Bears left Hamilton alone above the key and he buried a crucial three-pointer. Paris Austin got the Bears within one at 61-60. Then he gave Cal partisans some hope by stealing the ball with 41 seconds left. However, before he could to much with it it the ball was stolen from him five seconds later.
Derryck Thornton’s two free throws made it 63-60 but Cal had 36 seconds. South had a good look at the game-tying attempt, but it bounced off the rim.
“Obviously that was a big moment,” Fox said. “They are playing super hard defense and first option was taken away and we got another wide-open look at it didn’t go in.”
BC hit a free throw for the final score.
“Against a good team, you don’t have to play the full 40 (minutes),” Fox said. “You can play 38 or 39 and you have a chance to overcome the two or three you don’t play well. But you can’t play 34 or 36 and win.”
Thiemann, the freshman from Germany, was a definite positive factor for the Bears, scornig eight points and grabbing nine rebounds.
“I thought Lars came in and did a nice job,” Fox said. “I thought he was effective. Against a little smaller lineup it’s hard to find a good matchup but I thought Lars took a step forward today.”
The Bears have one more non-league game before Pac-12 play begins. They showed considerable improvement from the loss to St, Mary’s a week ago. Fox acknowledged the progress but is certainly not a happy camper these days.
“My family’s Christmas is probably ruined if I don’t leave the house,” he said, putting the Fox household on notice. “I know we are going to have to go through the fire. I know we have some limitations and I know we have a lot to learn. And we are going to have to go through the fire and it is going to take everybody to get through it. That doesn’t mean I have to be happy.”
Notes
- Fox picked up his second technical foul of the year, and second in two games, just before halftime.
- Bradley reached double figures for the 11th time in 12 game this year. It marked his fifth 20-point game of the season. He also grabbed a season-best 9 rebounds. “This guy did a tremendous job,” Fox said. “This guy cares about Cal. cares about playing the right way. He is just a great example.’
- Cal plays host to Harvard on Sunday, Dec. 29.
- BC is 8-5 and has won four straight games.
