Cal Bears forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (1) looks astonished with forward Lee Dort (34) in the background as Cal defeated the Florida State Seminoles at Haas Pavilion on Wed Jan 22, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

California used the offensive efforts of Jeremiah Wilkinson, Rytis Petraitis and Mady Sissoko to upend Florida State 77-68 in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball Wednesday at Haas Pavilion.

Wilkinson scored 18 points for the Golden Bears (10-9 overall, 3-5 ACC) while Sissoko and Petraitis each registered a double-double. Sissoko had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Petraitis finished with 12 points and 13 boards. Joshua Ola-Joseph scored 14 points and DJ Campbell chipped in with ten points.

Sissoko’s dunk put Cal up 69-59 with three minutes to play. Then Daquan Davis and Jamie Watkins scored inside to pull the Seminoles (13-6 overall, 4-4 ACC) to within six with 1:20 remaining. Cal maintained its lead by going 8-for-8 at the free throw line.

Earlier in the second half, Jerry Deng’s dunk gave Florida State a 51-49 lead at the 12-minute mark. But the Seminoles went cold, missing 11 consecutive shots while being held to eight points in a nine-minute stretch.

While FSU struggled, the Golden Bears scored 18 points, building a 57-55 lead with 4:30 to play.

Watkins led the Seminoles with 18 points, Malique Ewin contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Deng finished with 11 points.

While FSU visits Stanford on Saturday, Cal hosts Miami (Fla.), also on Saturday.