Cal, minus top scorer, runs away from Florida State

Field Level Media|published: Wed 22nd January, 23:42 2025

Jan 15, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; California Golden Bears head coach Mark Madsen reacts in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Jeremiah Wilkinson had 18 points in his first collegiate start and Cal overcame the absence of leading scorer Andrej Stojakovic to turn back Florida State 77-68 on Wednesday night in Berkeley, Calif.

DJ Campbell gave the Golden Bears (10-9, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 11:32 remaining in the game.

Joshua Ola-Joseph and Mady Sissoko chipped in with 14 points apiece, Rytis Petraitis 12 and Campbell 11 for Cal, which won its second straight despite not having Stojakovic, who began the day as the ACC's fourth-leading scorer at 19.6 points per game. The sophomore transfer from Stanford missed the game with an illness.

Jamir Watkins put up a game-high-tying 18 points for Florida State (13-6, 4-4), which took a 51-49 lead on a Jerry Deng dunk with 11:50 remaining.

Campbell countered 18 seconds later with his 3-pointer, triggering a 14-2 run that put the Golden Bears in command.

Florida State got as close as 69-63 with 1:21 to go, but Campbell dropped in a pair of free throws at the 1:10 mark, then two more 25 seconds later, and the Seminoles got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Petraitis contributed four points and Ola-Joseph a three-point play to the game-swinging burst, during which the Seminoles missed 12 of 13 shots and mixed in three turnovers over almost 6 1/2 minutes.

Petraitis and Sissoko shared game-high rebound honors with 13 each as part of double-doubles for Cal, which outrebounded the guests 47-42.

Ola-Joseph hit three 3-pointers and Wilkinson made two for the Golden Bears, who outscored Florida State 18-9 from deep despite making just 6 of 23 attempts (26.1 percent). The Seminoles went just 3-for-15 from long range (20 percent).

Wilkinson also found time for three assists, one fewer than Petraitis' game-high total.

Malique Ewin backed Watkins with 16 points to complement a team-high 10 rebounds and Deng totaled 11 points off the bench for the Seminoles, who had won two games in a row.

Florida State's Taylor Bol Bowen added nine points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

--Field Level Media

Latest