The California Golden Bears secured an 86-75 win over the Boston College Eagles, with Chris Bell leading the charge with 22 points on 8-12 shooting from the field. California, now 18-8 on the season, outscored Boston College 43-28 in the first half, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. The Golden Bears' 43 points in the first half marked their highest scoring half of the season, with 7 different players contributing to the scoring effort. California's 18-8 record and 63 NET ranking position them well for a potential tournament bid, with this win marking their 10th road victory of the season.
California's Chris Bell Scores 22 Points on 8-12 Shooting
The California Golden Bears dominated the first half, shooting 53.8% from the field and 42.9% from three, to take a 43-28 lead into halftime. Boston College, led by Fred Payne's 16 points, attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, scoring 47 points on 44.7% shooting from the field. However, California matched their first-half total with 43 points in the second half, led by Chris Bell's 12 points, to secure the 11-point victory. The Golden Bears' balanced attack saw 5 players score in double figures, including John Camden's 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Dai Dai Ames' 15 points. California's 86 points marked their 12th game of the season with 80 or more points, a key factor in their 18-8 record.
Fred Payne led the Boston College Eagles with 16 points and 5 rebounds, while Chase Forte added 14 points and Jayden Hastings contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds. For the California Golden Bears, Chris Bell's 22 points paced the team, with John Camden adding 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Dai Dai Ames scoring 15 points. California's top performers shot a combined 50% from the field, including 45.5% from three, to propel the Golden Bears to the 11-point victory. The Golden Bears' bench also played a key role, outscoring the Eagles' bench 24-15, with 4 players scoring at least 5 points off the bench.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The California Golden Bears outshot the Boston College Eagles 51.9% to 43.1% from the field, and 42.9% to 33.3% from three. California also outrebounded Boston College 35-30, with John Camden's 9 rebounds leading the way. The Golden Bears committed 12 turnovers, compared to Boston College's 15, and scored 16 points off of those turnovers. California's 43 points in the first half marked their highest scoring half of the season, with 7 different players contributing to the scoring effort. The Golden Bears' 86 points marked their 12th game of the season with 80 or more points, a key factor in their 18-8 record.
The CHD Scout predicted a California victory by 2.3 points, with a predicted score of 71-73. While the predicted score was off, the model correctly predicted the winner, with California ultimately securing an 11-point victory. The model's prediction was based on California's strong road record and Boston College's struggles at home, with the Golden Bears improving to 10-5 on the road with the win. The 11-point margin of victory marked California's 10th win by 10 or more points this season, a key factor in their 18-8 record and 63 NET ranking.
This win marks a Quadrant 3 victory for the California Golden Bears, who improve to 18-8 on the season and 63 in the NET rankings. For the Boston College Eagles, this loss marks a Quadrant 2 defeat, dropping them to 9-16 on the season and 152 in the NET rankings. The loss is a significant blow to Boston College's tournament hopes, with the Eagles now needing to win out to have a chance at a postseason bid. California's win, on the other hand, strengthens their tournament resume, with the Golden Bears now boasting a 10-5 road record and 18-8 overall mark. The Golden Bears' 63 NET ranking positions them well for a potential tournament bid, with this win marking their 12th game of the season with 80 or more points.
The California Golden Bears want to build on this momentum as they face off against the USC Trojans on February 17th. The Boston College Eagles, meanwhile, will attempt to bounce back against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on February 18th. California's 18-8 record and 63 NET ranking position them well for a potential tournament bid, while Boston College's 9-16 record and 152 NET ranking make a postseason bid increasingly unlikely. The Golden Bears' 10-5 road record and 18-8 overall mark make them a formidable opponent in the Pac-12, with the potential to make a deep run in the tournament.