Cal Comes Up Just Short In 78-75 Loss At Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, VA. -- The California men's basketball team fought through seven ties and four lead changes, but host Virginia Tech held off the Bears' hopes of a final word in a 78-75 Hokies win in Blacksburg, Va. The Bears had a last look to tie it up and force overtime that was just off the mark, leaving Cal with the road loss. The Bears are now 13-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play. Virginia Tech goes to 13-4, 2-2.

The Hokies had the upper hand early before the Bears broke off a 14-0 run to get out in front. The hosts answered right back, and it was all even on the scoreboard at halftime. Cal shot 43.3 percent overall in that opening half, just behind Virginia Tech's 47.8 percent effort. The Bears were up on the boards 19-8 by the break, although the foul count was tipped against the visitors 13-7. Cal's Lee Dort was the only player in double digits by halftime with 10 points. Ultimately, Virginia Tech benefited from numerous trips to the free-throw line as the Hokies went 27-of-31 from the stripe, while Cal was 19-of-21. The Bears finished up shooting 44.6 percent overall, and the Hokies wrapped at 43.4 percent. Cal outrebounded its host 31-28.

Five Bears finished in double digits on the day, led by Dai Dai Ames' game-high 21 points. Chris Bell scored 10 points in the second half to finish with 12, with Justin Pippen adding 11 and Lee Dort and Milos Ilic had 10 apiece. For Virginia Tech, Amani Hansberry had a team-high 15 points, and four other Hokies hit double figures.

Cal manufactured a 14-0 scoring run and held the Hokies scoreless from the floor for over eight minutes of action while the Bears built a 29-18 lead with 6:30 left in the first half. Three Bears -- Dai Dai Ames, DeJuan Campbell and Justin Pippen -- landed 3-pointers during that rally, which was sparked by a Lee Dort dunk. As the foul count tipped heavily against the Bears, Virginia Tech benefitted from an 11-0 run that had the game tied up 29-29 at 4:07. Lee Dort and Pippen pumped in back-to-back buckets later to take Cal ahead 37-32 with 1:30 to go in the half, only to see the Hokies haul themselves even with a score and a three-point play that left it locked up 37-37 at halftime. 

Chris Bell served up the first five points of the half for the Bears to bump them ahead 43-37 early. Again, the Hokies snarled things up, first at 45-45 with 15:35 on the clock and next at 58-58 at 8:20. Ames struck soon after for the Bears, and Milos Ilic scored back-to-back baskets to take Cal ahead 64-58 at 6:30. The Bears would lose both Mantas Kocanas and Lee Dort to foul-outs next as the Hokies nudged ahead, up 70-67 with 3:15 to go. Chris Bell carved that down to one, and a strong stand at the stripe by Ilic kept it as a one-point game entering the final minute. Pippen forced a turnover with 43 seconds on the clock, and Cal called timeout to set up with 37 seconds to go. The ball wouldn't drop for the Bears on that possession, and Virginia Tech hit free throws at the other end. Camden also hit a pair from the stripe ahead of one make by the Hokies, and it was a 77-75 scoreline with 6.7 ticks on the clock. Another VT free throw gave Cal a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but the last look was just off the mark and the Bears took the 78-75 loss in Blacksburg.

NEXT: The Bears return to Haas Pavilion to short two ranked opponents next week. Cal faces Duke at 8 p.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 14) and then squares off against North Carolina at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 17). The Cal-UNC game will also feature a halftime recognition of the 2026 Pete Newell Career Achievement Award recipient, Solomon Hughes.

NOTABLE:

- With 10 points, Lee Dort scored in double figures for the sixth time this season.

- Dai Dai Ames (21 points) scored in double figures for a team-best 15th time and recorded his eighth 20-point outing this season.

- Chris Bell (12 points) and Justin Pippen (11 points) both hit double digits for the 13th time.

- Milos Ilic had a season-high 10 points.

- Cal's 28 fouls matched its season high.