The Oregon Ducks guard Jamie Cousinard (5) drives for the hoop against the Cal Bears forward Faraws Amiaq (00) in the first half at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene OR on Sat Jan 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024

Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene, Oregon

California Golden Bears 73 (6-11 Overall; 2-4 Pac-12)

Oregon Ducks 80 (13-3 Overall; 5-0 Pac-12)

By Stephen Ruderman

In a role reversal of their epic comeback win Wednesday, but what has occurred so many times this season, the Bears blew an 18-point lead, as they ultimately fell to the Oregon Ducks, 80-73.

The Bears were coming off the win of the season after coming back from down 20 points to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes on Wednesday night in Berkeley. However, they were in Eugene, Oregon to play one of the best teams in the Pac-12 in the Ducks. The Ducks were coming in off to a 12-3 start, and winners of their previous five games.

Oregon won the opening tip, and got on the board after Mahamadou Diawara drew a foul and made the second of two from the line. Cal and Oregon both failed to score on their next drives, and then Fardaws Aimaq hit a three-ball to put the Bears up 3-1.

The scoring was back and forth over the first seven and a half minutes, but when Jalen Celestine hit a three with 12:27 remaining to put the Bears up 17-14, Cal went on a tear. Jalen Cone and Devin Curtis hit jump shots, and Cone hit the third of three from the line to put the Bears up 22-14.

The Bears kept their drive going, as Aimaq, Cone and Jaylon Tyson led the way, and a jumper from the paint by Tyson opened Cal’s lead to 41-23 with 3:59 to go in the first period.

However, the Ducks came roaring back. Jadrian Tracey laid one in to get things started. Jermaine Couisnard hit a three, and Keeshawn Barthelemy hit a jumper to make it 41-30.

Keonte Kennedy laid one in to make it 43-30, but the Ducks kept going. Tracey and Couisnard hit threes to close it to 43-36, and Couisnard hit another three to make it 43-39 going into the half.

The Ducks closed out the first period with a 16-2 run, and they weren’t finished. There was no scoring for the first minute and 18 seconds of the second period until Tracey slammed one down. Tyson responded by laying one in.

Jackson Shelstad hit a jumper to make it 45-43, and then he hit a three to put the Ducks back ahead. The Bears retook a 49-46 lead after Tyson hit two from the line, and Rodney Brown Jr. laid one in, but the Ducks scored five unanswered points to jump back ahead, 51-49.

Grant Newell hit a jumper for Cal to tie it, and then Kario Oquendo hit a three to put Oregon back ahead, 54-51. Jalen Cone was fouled, and hit two from the line to make it 54-53.

Then, the Ducks started to pull away. Oquendo dunked one in, and Tracey made a pair of layups plus a free throw to open the Ducks’ lead to 61-53 with 10:10 remaining.

The Bears still had some fight left in them. Tyson hit a three, and Kennedy laid one in to cut the deficit to 63-60. Jackson Shelstad hit two from the lane for the Ducks, and Kennedy hit a hook shot and a free throw to make it 65-63.

The Bears continued to tread water, as they trailed 70-67 with 4:41 to go, but the Ducks started to pull away again, and this time for good. Keeshawn Barthelemy laid one in; N’faly Dante hit a free throw; Brennan Rigsby hit a jumper; and Dante hit another free throw to open the lead up to 76-67 with 2:38 to go.

Time was running out for the Bears, who were never able to get back to within any less than six points, and the Ducks held on to win it, 80-73.

It was another loss for the Bears after blowing a massive lead, as they fell to 6-11 on the season, and 2-4 in Pac-12 play. The good news for the Bears is that with their next three games at Haas Pavilion and a plethora of off-days, they will be home for almost three weeks.

The Bears will look to bounce back, as the Washington Huskies will come into Berkeley for a 6 p.m. start Thursday night.