Late Fouls, Missed Chances Sink Cal in 78–75 Loss at Virginia Tech
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BLACKSBURG, Va. — In a doubleheader in the Old Dominion state, Cal dropped its second straight game, falling to Virginia Tech 78–75. With a 1–3 start in conference play, Cal must address its shortcomings before it faces No. 6 Duke next Wednesday at Haas Pavilion.
37–37: Two unanswered runs, same result
Madsen said the Bears responded to their loss at Virginia with hard, physical practices this week. With emphasis in physicality and rebounding, The Bears finished with 32 rebounds, narrowly edging Virginia Tech’s 31.
Cal opened the half with defensive pressure, forcing Virginia Tech’s opening attempts to the perimeter, where the Hokies finished the period 3-for-10 (30%).
With 8:30 in the first half, Cal caught fire with a 14–0 run to take a 24–16 lead. Lee Dort led the charge in Blacksburg, quieting the maroon-clad crowd with 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting, four assists, and two finishes at the line.
Virginia Tech answered with an 11–0 run as Cal committed multiple fouls and turnovers, which the Hokies capitalized on, pulling even at 29–29.
Jaden Schutt led the Hokies with eight points on 2–for-4 shooting from beyond the arc, two free throws, and one rebound.
The Hokies’ other starters entered the locker room with four points apiece, except guard Jailen Bedford, who finished with five points on one 3-pointer and two free throws.
Despite both teams trading runs, the half ended deadlocked at 37–37.
Second-half mistakes, a familiar script
Chris Bell jump-started Cal with a 6–0 run in the first 90 seconds of the second half.
The Bears, however, continued to foul, giving Virginia Tech repeated trips to the line. Cal finished with 28 fouls compared to Virginia Tech’s 18.
The Hokies responded with a 6–0 run to tie the game at 45 with 15:30 remaining.
Virginia Tech entered the bonus with 11 minutes left, shaping the final stretch. Cal continued to respond with physicality and defensive rotations, but neither team could create separation.
Dai Dai Ames paced the Bears, finishing with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting and two assists, while Dort anchored the paint with seven rebounds, one block, and one steal.
As both teams searched for a late advantage, the score remained tight well into the second half.
Dort was called for an illegal screen — his fifth foul — at the five-minute mark, sending him to the bench. Cal’s center, Milos Ilic also fouled out, leaving the Bears thin in the paint.
That absence proved costly, as the final minutes turned into a free-throw battle, reminiscent of Cal’s earlier win over Notre Dame.
This time, the result was different.
With multiple opportunities at the rim, Cal missed, and then missed, and then missed again – forcing them to foul the Hokies in hopes of extending the game.
After trading free throws, Virginia Tech held a 77-75 lead with 6.7 seconds remaining.
The ball was inbounded to Ames, who swung it back to John Camden, who mishandled the pass, giving the possession back to the Hokies.
Bedford split a pair of free throws with 3.6 seconds left, pushing the lead to three.
On the final possession, Justin Pippen caught a long outlet pass and had a clean look from beyond the arc. But the shot rimmed out.
Virginia Tech sealed the 78–75 win, sending Cal home with progress — and problems — still top of mind.
Pulse Takeaway: Looking Ahead to Duke
Madsen’s Bears have earned a reputation for physicality, applying pressure defensively, scoring from multiple spots on the floor. That identity has helped Cal reach 13 wins this season.
But the mistakes need to be cleaned up.
With 28 fouls and 12 turnovers, Cal’s focus moving forward will be ball security on offense and discipline on defense.
Cal will face No. 6 Duke next Wednesday at Haas Pavilion. The Blue Devils enter the matchup at 15–1, eager to make a statement in Berkeley,