Golden Bears Edge Out Tommies at Haas Pavilion in Close Contest
The California Golden Bears secured a narrow victory over the St. Thomas Tommies with a final score of 71-66. The Golden Bears now hold an even season record, while the Tommies fall behind in their own.
In a game that saw the lead change hands 15 times and was tied on seven occasions, it was the California Golden Bears who emerged victorious at Haas Pavilion. The home team displayed commendable shooting accuracy, converting 49 percent of their field goal attempts and making 24 baskets. From beyond the arc, they were particularly effective, hitting seven out of 15 attempts for an impressive three-point percentage of 47 percent.
The Golden Bears also excelled at drawing fouls and capitalizing on them, attempting 22 free throws and making an efficient 73 percent. Their ability to maintain possession was evident as they committed only nine turnovers throughout the game. Defensively, they amassed six steals and blocked two shots from the Tommies.
On offense, California's points were well-distributed across different scoring methods; both teams scored an equal number of points in the paint (28), but fast break opportunities favored the Golden Bears who added another eleven points to their tally through quick transitions.
Rebounding played a significant role in this tightly contested matchup as well. The Golden Bears outrebounded their opponents by eight boards overall with a total rebound count of 31 compared to St. Thomas' 23 rebounds.
The visiting St. Thomas Tommies put up a resilient fight despite falling short on the scoreboard. They shot effectively from two-point range with a success rate of 56 percent and matched this efficiency from three-point territory by sinking twelve out of twenty-eight attempts for a solid percentage of nearly forty-three percent.
Staying disciplined under pressure is crucial in close games; however, personal fouls proved costly for St. Thomas as they racked up seventeen fouls over both halves combined compared to thirteen by California.
Looking ahead after this hard-fought win at home, fans can anticipate another exciting matchup when the California Golden Bears host Pacific Tigers at Haas Pavilion on November tenth at eight PM Pacific Time (PST). This upcoming contest will be broadcasted live on Pac-12 Network for fans eager to follow all action from Berkeley's premier basketball venue.