BERKELEY, California – The Virginia Cavaliers faced a tough night on Wednesday as they went head-to-head with the California Golden Bears in a contest that ended in a 75-61 defeat at Haas Pavilion. Both teams came into the game with identical records of 8-7 and 1-3 in the ACC, but it was the Golden Bears who finally claimed their first ACC victory.
The first half saw a back-and-forth exchange, with Virginia leading early on. They jumped out to an 11-3 start, showing promise. However, Cal rallied back, largely due to their ability to convert free throws and capitalize on offensive rebounds. At halftime, the score was 35-32, in favor of Cal.
As the second half got underway, Cal increased their intensity, going on an 8-0 run to push their lead to 43-32. Virginia struggled to maintain their composure and often found themselves on the wrong side of key plays. Andrej Stojakovic was a standout player for the Golden Bears, displaying a strong offensive game and finishing with 23 points, including clutch free throws late in the game.
Even as the Cavaliers fought to recover, they could not overcome the deficit. Andrew Rohde tried to keep Virginia in the game, contributing with a few key shots. However, his efforts were not enough to counter the Golden Bears’ balanced attack. Virginia managed to trim the lead to single digits at one point in the second half, but every time they made a push, Cal responded firmly.
In the final minutes, Virginia failed to secure crucial rebounds, allowing Cal to extend their lead at the free-throw line. Despite late-game heroics from players like Rohde, the Cavaliers’ comeback attempts fell short. With this loss, Virginia now stands at 8-7 overall and 1-3 in the ACC, while California improves to 8-7 and gathers momentum in conference play.
Fans and analysts will be keeping an eye on upcoming games as both teams work to regain their footing in the season.
