Jovan Blacksher Jr. capped a 14-point performance with a late, go-ahead layup to help Cal defeat North Carolina State 65-62 on Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C.
With 1:01 to play and Cal (9-9, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailing by a point, Blacksher dribbled along the perimeter and surveyed the defense. He then made his way past one defender before euro-stepping and lofting a nifty layup over NC State’s Ben Middlebrooks.
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield then missed on the Wolfpack’s next possession, and Cal’s DJ Campbell knocked down two free throws with 12 seconds left to put the game on ice. Breon Pass’ potential game-tying 3-point attempt missed the mark as NC State (9-9, 2-5) lost its third straight game.
Four other players scored in double figures for the Golden Bears, with Campbell scoring 13 points, Jeremiah Wilkinson adding 11 off the bench and Mady Sissoko and Andrej Stojakovic each contributing 10 points and five rebounds.
Jayden Taylor powered NC State with 18 points, Marcus Hill scored 13 and Middlebrooks added 11.
The Wolfpack were plagued by a horrific 3-point shooting effort, as they made just 1 of 10 shots from behind the arc. It’s the fifth time this season that NC State has shot below 30 percent from long range, and it is now 2-3 in those games.
Cal, meanwhile, knocked down 6 of 16 shots from 3-point land and also outrebounded NC State 38-31.
Neither team ever led by more than six points. The Golden Bears had that advantage with 4:40 to play in the second half after two free throws from Blacksher. NC State then went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, a rally that was capped off by a three-point-play from Taylor. Cal then closed the game with the heroics from Blacksher and Campbell.
After Middlebrooks put together a personal 6-0 run to put the hosts up 23-20 with 7:14 to go in the first half, the Golden Bears closed the period by scoring 11 of the final 17 points to take a 31-29 edge into intermission.
–Field Level Media
