Virginia 84, Cal 60
4 min read
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia shot 50.0 percent from the field and outscored Cal 41–27 in the second half to secure an 84–60 win Wednesday night. The Cavaliers, ranked No. 23 entering the matchup, finished with nine three-pointers and a 45–26 rebounding advantage.
Cal shot 35.2 percent (19-for-54) from the floor and 15.8 percent from three-point range (3-for-19). Virginia converted 30 of its 60 field-goal attempts and recorded 23 assists on those makes.
The game remained tight through the opening stretch, with the score tied 15–15 midway through the first half. Virginia began to separate behind perimeter shooting and interior rebounding, closing the half on a late push to take a 43–33 lead. Malik Thomas closed the opening period with a three-pointer in the final seconds.
Virginia extended its advantage early in the second half, opening with a 7–2 run and maintaining double-digit separation the rest of the way. The Cavaliers steadily built the margin through half-court efficiency and second-chance opportunities, pushing the lead past 20 midway through the period.
Cal was led by Dai Dai Ames, who finished with 18 points on 4-of-10 shooting and went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. Justin Pippen added 17 points, five steals, and three assists, while John Camden contributed 15 points and six rebounds. Cal attempted 22 free throws but struggled to find consistent scoring from the field.
Virginia received balanced production across its rotation. Thomas led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 7-for-12 and knocking down four three-pointers. Johann Grunloh added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Thijs De Ridder and Sam Lewis each scored 12. Off the bench, Ugonna Onyenso recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.
The Cavaliers also finished with nine blocks and limited Cal’s interior efficiency, while converting consistently off rebounds and half-court possessions.
The loss drops Cal to 13–3 overall as conference play continues. Wednesday’s matchup marked a legitimate test against a Virginia team, poised to remain grounded in ACC play. Cal, however, dropped two of their first three games in conference play.
Pulse Takeaway
Cal returns to action on Saturday against Virginia Tech, keeping the work in Old Dominion as they look ahead to hosting No. 6 Duke next Wednesday. The two-game stretch presents contrasting matchups, offering Cal an opportunity to recalibrate before facing one of the nation’s top-ranked teams.