Cal Bears center Mady Sissoko (12) who led with 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Boston College Eagles at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Mar 1, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, March 1, 2025

California pulled away in the second half at Haas Pavilion Saturday, as the Golden Bears earned an 82-71 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over visiting Boston College.

Mady Sissoko registered career highs with 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead Cal (13-16 overall, 6-12 ACC). Sissoko was 9-of-10 from the field and sank 3-of-4 free throws. Jovan Blacksher Jr. was next with 18 points, Andrej Stojakovic had 15 points and Jeremiah Wilkinson added 14 points.

Boston College (12-17 overall, 4-14 ACC) had three players score in double figures, led by Donald Hand Jr. with 18 points, followed by Luka Toews with 14 and Dion Brown with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal outrebounded the Eagles 40-36. The Golden Bears shot 49.2 percent (30 of 61) from the field, including 7 of 18 on 3-pointers. BC hit 39 percent on 25 of 63 shooting – 4 of 14 behind the arc. Cal dominated in the paint 38-28 and points off turnovers were even at 14-14.

California opened the game with a 13-2 run. The Eagles took their first lead at 46-45 with 14:31 to play, as Hand had seven points during a 13-1 run.

Stojakovic and Wilkinson each sank a 3-pointer to spark an 11-0 Cal run, allowing the Golden Bears build a 72-60 lead with 3:59 remaining. Sissoko scored the last five points of that run.

BC committed 11 turnovers, and Cal had more turnovers (13) than assists (11).

The Golden Bears visit Louisville on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.