Jalen Celestine gave Cal the lead for good on two free throws with 58.3 seconds remaining and the Golden Bears survived three consecutive Stanford scoreless possessions down the stretch to hold on for a 73-71 triumph over the Cardinal on Friday in Berkeley, Calif.
Celestine scored five of Cal’s points in a 7-3 finish after Stanford took its last lead of the contest at 68-66 on Kanaan Carlyle’s jumper with 3:10 to go.
After Fardaws Aimaq produced a 68-all tie by sinking two free throws, Celestine hit a jumper, the go-ahead free throws and then a clinching foul shot in the final 2:16.
The Golden Bears (8-12, 4-5 Pac-12) won their second straight game despite losing star Jaylon Tyson in the second half to a thigh injury.
Down 72-71, Stanford failed on opportunities to go ahead when Carlyle couldn’t convert on a drive with 40 seconds to go. The Cardinal’s Maxime Raynaud was called for traveling after taking a long pass under the hoop with 10.7 seconds left.
Celestine then capped a 12-point effort by making 1 of 2 free throws with seven seconds remaining. Stanford once again failed on its final possession, with Carlyle’s wild driving layup missing badly as time expired.
Aimaq finished with 13 points and a team-high 12 rebounds for Cal, which won for the first time in six games decided by three or fewer points this season.
Tyson had a game-high 14 points for the Golden Bears, while Keonte Kennedy and Grant Newell added 11 apiece and Jalen Cone had 10.
Despite missing much of the second half, Tyson also found time for a team-high four assists and two steals.
Raynaud had a double-double for Stanford (10-9, 5-4) with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Spencer Jones chipped in with a team-high 13 points, while Carlyle and Brandon Angel added 12 apiece.
Cal outshot Stanford 41 percent to 39.7 percent in a tightly contested game that featured seven ties and five lead changes in the final 12:43.
–Field Level Media
