MBB: Hoos’ second-half collapse leads to Cal’s first ACC win, 75-61

By Scott Ratcliffe

California picked up its first conference win as a member of the ACC, 75-61, at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Wednesday night, as Virginia simply couldn’t get things together in the second half.

The Cavaliers (8-7, 1-3 ACC) led by as many as 8 points early in the contest, but the Golden Bears (8-7, 1-3) transformed a 3-point halftime advantage into a comfortable margin down the stretch to end their three-game skid.

In the second half, California outscored Virginia by a 40-29 margin. Cal’s Andrej Stojakovic was held in check by the UVA defense in the first half, but the star sophomore exploded for 19 of his game-high 23 points after halftime to lead the charge, marking his eighth game with 20-plus this season.

Michigan State grad transfer Mady Sissoko was a menace on both ends down low, resulting in 9 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.

The Wahoos fell behind by double digits early in the second half and couldn’t get back in it, as the Bears used an 8-0 run out of the halftime break to extend their lead to 43-32, prompting a Ron Sanchez timeout.

Cal wasn’t done, however, stretching the lead to 17 midway through the half before Virginia made it somewhat respectable by the final whistle.

UVA went 19 for 58 from the field on the night (33 percent), connecting on 7 of 23 from 3-point territory (30 percent) and 16 of 18 (89 percent) from the free-throw line.

Cal shot at a 43-percent clip (22 for 51) and came away with a 40-33 edge in the rebounding department. The Bears outscored the Hoos, 30-20, in the paint and 13-4 on the fast break.

Andrew Rohde led the Hoos with 14 points — his third straight game in double figures — and a game-high 6 assists, as Elijah Saunders finished with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Jacob Cofie added 12 points in the losing effort.

Fellow first-year Ishan Sharma provided 9 points off the bench, all from beyond the arc, while Isaac McKneely struggled with his shot and finished with just 3 points, missing several open looks along the way (1 for 8 FG, 1 for 4 from deep).

The Hoos are winless (0-3) in true road games and 1-5 in games not played in Charlottesville (including neutral-site contests) this season.

Team Notes

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• Virginia fell to 8-7 overall, 1-3 ACC
• UVA is 1-5 away from home and 0-3 in true road contests
• Cal started the second half on an 8-0 run
• Cal led 35-32 at the half
• UVA has trailed at the half in all four ACC contests
• UVA led 11-3, but Cal used a 10-0 run to gain a 13-11 lead
• Cal outrebounded UVA 40-33 and scored 30 points in the paint
• UVA committed a season-high 23 fouls as Cal converted 27 of 33 free throws

Series Notes

• Virginia is 2-1 all-time vs. Cal in a series that dates to 2015-16
• UVA is 1-1 against the Golden Bears in Berkeley

Player Notes

• Double Figure Scorers: Andrew Rohde (14), Jacob Cofie (12), Elijah Saunders (11)
• Rohde reached double figures for the seventh time (38 career)
• Rohde has a three-game double figure scoring streak
• Cofie reached double figures for the sixth time
• Saunders added a career-high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double
• Saunders reached double figures for the 10th time (17 career)
• Saunders has a six-game double figure scoring streak
• Isaac McKneely has a 32-game 3-point streak dating back to last season
• Ishan Sharma (3 3-pointers) has made two or more 3-pointers in four games

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will remain in the Bay Area to face Stanford on Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.