Part I

When we left off, Cal was up 11 on UCLA at half.  It was stunning, but pleasing.  I'll allow it!

As you'll see UCLA outplayed Cal in the second half and Cal ended up holding on in OT.  Yay!

However, what is the reason that UCLA really outplayed Cal in the second half?  Well, you might credit their 3 point shooting or their D.  Not me.  No, I blame one thing and one thing alone:  

Justin Beiber!

Wherever that kid goes, massive sucktitude follows.  You know it.  I know it.  Esperanza Spalding saved us from total disaster just a week or so ago.  

Which is why it is quizzical to me that the Cal Spirit Squads decided to Beiber it up for the halftime performance.  Yes, they did a great job.  Nobody is doubting that.  They always do.  They always will.

But even the best Beiber possible could potentially sink the most inspired Cal squad.  Cal did its best to overcome his youthful stink.  Let this be a lesson to you, Cal Spirit.  

Let's see more of that action after the jump.  GO BEARS!

I can't believe a hooded sweatshirt is popular now.  Why couldn't it have been really popular when I was in high school.  I could have fallen ass backwards into being trendy!

I thought that UCLA got away with murder on defense.  Here, they are group hugging Jorge.  He did a really good job at passing and that helped when the UCLA team was so focused on him.  

Here we see the fans in the stands trying to distract a UCLA free throw shooter.  

34 for UCLA is a BIIIIIIG boy.  Here, MSF attempts to escape his orbit, but is not able to break free from the gravitational pull!  I heard a "Teddybear" chant erupt when he was shooting free throws, but I couldn't tell whether it was a compliment or insult.  

TEDDYBEAR!  TEDDYBEAR!

Kamp didn't get the pub from the game that Jorge did and he certainly did not have as great of a game.  However, Kamp was still very active and was the recipient of many great Jorge passes.  

Thanks to some sloppy ball handling on Cal's part (Brandon Smith can play wildly at times) and a barrage of 3s by UCLA, UCLA climbed right back into the game.  They briefly led and the score yoyoed back and forth.  What was an 11 point halftime lead went bye bye.  

Cal got up 3 on a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE 3 pointer from Brandon Smith.  Haas went insane.  I wasn't entirely sure what people were doing, because I was in a giant bear hug with a few other people.  One of those real pure moments.  

So, Cal is up 3.  They are discussing what to do.  Monty called like 18 time outs at this point.  It was as if he was trying to ice the kicker.  Apparently, they told the team to intentionally foul, but it was poorly executed.  The ball was knocked out of bounds and UCLA had 3 seconds left.

Instead of telling you what happens, let me show you it.  In CGB tweet form:

@GoldenBlogs - Cal up 3 w 6 seconds left. How will ucla tear our hearts out thisyear?????

@GoldenBlogs -Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

@GoldenBlogs - Ot in berkeley again 

@GoldenBlogs - Why does god hate cal?

Yes.  That sucked.  A lot.  Malcolm Lee hit a desperation 3 that bounced up and off of the rim.  When it bounced up, I knew it was going in.  I just knew it.  There was no other way.  NO OTHER WAY!

The place exploded and my section in specific seemed louder than ever.  The UCLA team was going crazy on the Court.  They weren't dead.  Yet!

Notice that #34 for UCLA had fouled out.  Get that guy out of there!

Cal managed to hold on after a really high scoring OT.  I thought Cal was toast in OT, bc UCLA had played so well in the 2nd half.  Considering UCLA scored like 6 points in the first 10 minutes of the game, scoring 12 in the last 5 shows just how high scoring it all was.  

Jorge had 2 free throws to shoot with less than 1 second left.  The game was all but over.  This must have been so painful for Howland's crew.  Just to sit there and watch knowing nothing good could happen.

I think Monty called like 4 more time outs after this.  Just to fuck with UCLA!

The students rushed the Court and I ran down to try to grab some photos.  The team was high fiving people as they ran off the Court.

It was pandemonium.

Even the coaches were high fiving people!

Jorge was getting interviewed here.  Couldn't hear what he was saying.

Brandon Smith was getting interviewed, also.

What a great game!  34 for Jorge!  Great to beat our little brothers to the South.  Hope Cal can build on this momentum.  The NCAA is probably out, but maybe Cal can make the NIT and make some hay.  Some delicious, delicious hay!  GO BEARS!