Cal handles Boston College, qualifies for ACC tournament

Mady Sissoko had 21 points and 15 rebounds in California's 82-71 victory Saturday night over Boston College at Berkeley, Calif.

California (13-16, 6-12 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounced back after losing five straight overall and three of its previous four home games.

In their first season in the conference, the Golden Bears qualified for the ACC tournament with the victory.

Boston College (12-17, 4-14) is 0-9 on the road.

Cal's Jovan Blacksher Jr. had 18 points, Andrej Stojakovic finished with 15 and Jeremiah Wilkinson had 14.

Boston College was led by Donald Hand Jr.'s 19 points, including a 10-of-10 performance at the free-throw line.

Luka Toews had 14 points and Dion Brown contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles.

Stojakovic and Wilkinson hit 3-pointers to spark an 11-0 run, enabling the Golden Bears to pull away to a 72-60 lead with 3:59 left.

Sissoko scored the last five points of that stretch.

Hand made a dunk with 1:34 left to cut the lead to 76-69.

California secured the win when Sissoko, Blacksher and Stojakovic converted two free-throw attempts apiece after getting fouled in the last 1:07.

California opened a 13-2 lead less than five minutes into the game.

After Sissoko's 3-pointer gave California a 21-8 lead with 10:08 left in the half, Boston College responded with a 13-3 run.

Brown's jumper with 3:23 left cut Cal's lead to 29-27.

A 13-2 run put the Golden Bears ahead 42-29 with less than a minute until halftime.

Blacksher scored seven points in that stretch and had 12 by halftime.

Boston College took its first lead at 46-45 with 14:31 left, at the close of a 13-1 run in which Hand had seven points.

The Eagles recorded only six assists with 11 turnovers and shot 4 of 14 from 3-point range.

California also had more turnovers (13) than assists (11).

--Field Level Media