Cal-Washington: Bears Give Lesson on Perseverance, Beat Washington in Three OTs

The California Golden Bears ended up beating the Washington Huskies in triple overtime. Little did anyone know that when the game started that this game would be the best game of the NCAA's young season.

Well, it was, and the Bears also showed a lesson on what perseverance is all about. 

The game was pretty much controlled by the Huskies. When I mean dominated the game, I mean that the only two leads that Cal had were 1-0 and the game-deciding lead that pushed the game to 86-85 came with 15 seconds left in the third overtime. 

The Huskies took advantage of the Bears lack of size, using Jon Brockman in the paint where he was brutal down in the blocks. It also showed what the Bears main weakness is.

The Bears don't have a dominant post presence defensively to make a player work and the defenders fouled Brockman, the only saving grace is that he's a horrendous foul shooter. 

The announcers of the game, which I don't remember the full names, just that it was Frances and Kevin, kept on talking about Qunicy Pondexter, a senior on the Huskies' team as the x-factor in the game.

Not only was he highly ineffective, but their predictions were way off the mark. They talked about him showing up in overtime—he did, sort of—but he also had a key turnover as well. Pondexter finished the game 2-9 from the field, 1-2 from the line, and ended up with just five points.

The Huskies also did a great job in the first half of making Jerome Randle take his matchup with their young freshman point guard Isaiah Thomas personal. He ended up going 1-6 in the half.

In the second half and until the point he fouled out which, was just after just 18 seconds into the third overtime. Randle went on to go six for his next 10 from the floor and finished with 23 points and what started it was a layup by Randle.

The worst part for the Huskies though is that they should have won this game in regulation. With just about nine-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game, the Huskies held an 11-point lead and basically were in the driver's seat for this game. 

Yet, Cal never backed down and clawed their way back into the game. Randle made the clutch game tying three to send the game into overtime at 58-58. 

The first overtime ended at 64-64. Both teams in the first overtime were able to make key play after key play and there was very little scoring in that overtime.

The second overtime was more exciting. The Huskies decided to make their free throws in this overtime, which made it a lot harder for California. With 33 seconds left in the second overtime, the Huskies had a 75-70 lead. Randle then came back with a quick two, almost a three, but his foot was on the line. 

The Bears then fouled Justin Dentmon who had a decent game from the foul line and he split the pair of free throws making the game 76-72. The Bears were able to find Randle in the corner for a three he missed but was fouled on the attempt.

Unfortunately for the Bears, Randle, who is one of the better foul shooters in the Pac-10, missed, but he made the last two, making the score 76-74. 

Dentmon again was fouled and again he split the free throws. The Bears came down the court where Randle found Patrick Christopher in the corner for a contested three, but he missed but D.J. Seeley followed the shot and was able to put the offensive rebound in and he was also fouled.

Seeley, only a freshman calmly swished the free throw with 1.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime, which ended up sending the game into the third overtime with the score 77-77. 

During the first possession of overtime for the Bears, Randle fouled out. Leaving the Bears with two freshman in the backcourt and they did step up defensively and offensively. 

What also helped is the fact that the Bears fouled Brockman twice, forcing him to make his free throws, and he didn't going 0-4 in the third overtime and it allowed Cal to be able to gain the lead at 86-85 with just 15 seconds left. Theo Robertson made the game-winning hoop by driving to the basket pulling up and getting fouled where he converted the three point play. 

The Huskies final play was basically isolation for Dentmon and even in the point of the game it was Christopher who made the defensive play on Dentmon who was more concerned about drawing a foul that he missed the shot and Christopher pulled down his 11th rebound of the game and sealed the victory with two free throws with .6 seconds remaining. 

The Huskies last attempt heave down the court was intercepted by the Bears. The final score Cal 88 and Washington 85.