Washington Huskies guard Sahvir Wheeler (right) looks to pass the ball while being guarded by the Cal Bears guard Keonte Kennedy (3) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thu Jan 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Washington Huskies 77 (11-7 Overall; 3-4 Pac-12)

California Golden Bears 75 (6-12 Overall; 2-5 Pac-12)

By Stephen Ruderman

Following a wild seesaw game, the Bears took a late lead, but blew it in the final minutes, as they lost, 77-75, on a last-second buzzer beater by Moses Wood.

The Bears had the win of the season in their last home game at Haas Pavilion on Jan. 10 against the Colorado Buffaloes. Then, they went on the road, and blew a massive lead to the Oregon Ducks Saturday night in Eugene. They were hoping to recreate the magic of their last home game, as they returned home to take on the Washington Huskies.

The Bears won the opening tip, and got on the board right away on a jump shot by Fardaws Aimaq. That was followed up by a layup by Keion Brooks Jr. to tie the game, and a shot from the line to give Washington the lead. 

A three-ball by Jalen Cone, and a layup by Jaylon Tyson gave Cal a 7-3 lead, but the Huskies tied it with jumpers from Paul Mulcahy and Sahvir Wheeler. The Bears took three more leads before the Huskies put together a bit of a run to take an 18-14 lead with 11:33 to go in the first period.

The Bears then struck with a 12-2 run to take a 26-20 lead. It was an overall team effort, as Gus Larson, Rodney Brown Jr., Jalen Celestine, Jaylon Tyson and Keonte Kennedy all contributed to the run.

The Bears led 30-25 with 5:26 to go before the half, but the Huskies scored six unanswered points to take the lead back, 31-30. That began a 15-5 run by Washington going into the half, as they took their biggest lead of the night at 40-35.

When the second period began, the Huskies continued their momentum. Keion Brooks Jr., and Fardaws Aimaq each missed threes, and then Sahvir Wheeler hit a three to extend Washington’s lead to 43-35. Jaylon Tyson laid one in, but Brooks hit a jumper, and Wilhelm Breidenbach hit a three to open up the Huskies’ lead to 48-37.

The Bears, who have been through a number of seesaw battles already this season, were poised to make this game another wild one. Jalen Cone made a pair of threes and a free throw, and Aimaq slammed two down and laid one in, as the two of them alone combined for a 13-4 run by Cal to put the Bears right back in it within two at 52-50.

The Huskies then scored nine unanswered points. Brooks and Braxton Meah both made layups, and Moses Wood made all three from the line after being fouled from beyond the arc, as the Huskies now led it 59-50 with 12:12 to go.

The Bears once again stormed back. Grant Newell hit a jumper; Cone hit a three; and Kennedy hit a jumper to make it 62-57. Newell laid one in, and Aimaq hit a free throw and a jump shot to tie the game at 62-62 with 6:52 to go.

Kennedy then hit a three to put Cal back ahead, and that was followed by a three ball by Anthony Holland to tie it. 

Aimaq took control from there, as he hit a layup, a free throw and a jumper. Jalen Cone hit one from beyond the Arc, and the Bears led it 73-67 with just 2:05 to go. The Bears look poised to pull out another big win in what was yet another wild game. Wheeler hit a jumper with 1:54 to go, and neither team was able to hit a bucket over the next minute and 22 seconds.

The Bears led 73-69 with just 32 seconds to play, but this wild game was nowhere near over. Moses Wood was fouled going for three, and hit two of his shots from the line to make it 73-71. Koren Johnson then elected to foul Cone, who hit both shots to give Cal their two points back, and make it 75-71 with 31 seconds to go.

The Huskies gave the ball to Holland, who hit one from downtown to make it a one-point game. Aimaq was fouled, and missed both from the line. Koren Johnson took the rebound, and passed the ball to Brooks, who tried to lay one in, but was rejected by Aimaq. 

Four seconds remained. Wheeler threw the ball inbounds to Brooks, who passed to Moses Wood. Wood took the ball, and fired from beyond the arc just in front of the courtside seats with 1.7 seconds to go. Grant Newell tripped Wood, as he tried to block the ball, but with the ball in the air, it was up to the physics of Woods’ shot, which went in just 0.3 seconds before the Buzzer.

Wheeler had won it for the Huskies, and was stormed by his teammates in what was an incredible win for Washington. For the Bears, it was their second-straight devastating loss, and another devastating loss in a rebuilding season full of them. 

Cal has definitely had a far better season than their brutal 3-29 campaign a year ago, but like any rebuilding team in any sport at any level, the Bears have had their growing pains. The Bears have played in a number of seesaw games this season, and have blown a fair amount of leads, but they have also bounced back from some of those devastating losses to win some incredible games.

The Bears will have another chance to do so Saturday, as they will welcome in the Washington State Cougars for a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday at Haas Pavilion.