Bears Down Ducks in Home Finale, 69-64
BERKELEY (AP) – Jaylon Tyson and Jalen Cone each hit a pair of free throws in the final 23 seconds to help California fend off Oregon 69-64 Saturday and win its third straight game Saturday in Haas Pavilion.
The Golden Bears (13-15, 9-8 Pac-12) – who clinched their first home winning record since the 2019-20 season with their win over Oregon State on Thursday – sealed their first home sweep of the Oregon schools since the 2015-16 campaign. They ended their 2023-24 home slate with a 10-6 record.
Cone hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Cal in front for good, 46-44, with 11:23 left. Oregon cut its deficit to 60-59 after Jermaine Couisnard hit two free throws with 2:38 left, but Cone answered with a 3 and Fardaws Aimaq pushed the lead to 65-60 with a layup with under a minute left.
Tyson finished 11 of 23 from the field to lead Cal with 27 points and added seven rebounds and a pair of blocks. Cone hit 3 of 10 from beyond the arc to add 15 points and Aimaq pulled down 14 rebounds to go with eight points. It was the 16th time Tyson surpassed 20 points scored in a game this season. He and Cone – who played 36 and 37 minutes, respectively – did not commit a turnover.
“I believe in myself and my teammates believe in me,” Tyson said, who bounced back from a seven-point scoring effort on Thursday against Oregon State. “They had my back last game, so I told ’em I had their back this game. I have a lot of confidence in myself, a lot of confidence.”
Couisnard was 8 of 10 from the free-throw line and finished with 19 points to lead Oregon (18-9, 10-6). N'Faly Dante had 15 points and nine rebounds and Jadrian Tracey added 10 points.
Cal plays at Colorado on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the first of three road games to close the 2023-24 regular season. Tipoff at the CU Events Center in Boulder is slated for 5 p.m. PST/6 p.m. MST.
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The Rodcast: Cal-Oregon Breakdown
Bears Come Back For 81-73 Win Over OSU