BERKELEY (AP) – Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 18 points in his first career start, Mady Sissoko and Rytis Petraitis had double-doubles and the California men's basketball team defeated Florida State 77-68 on Wednesday night in Haas Pavilion.
 
Sissoko had 14 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high five blocks while Petraitis added 12 points and 13 rebounds – eight on the offensive glass – and four assists for Cal (10-9, 3-5 ACC), which won its second straight conference contest following a road win at NC State last Saturday. Joshua Ola-Joseph scored 14 points and DJ Campbell added 11 to give Cal five double-figure scorers for the second time in as many games.
 
A dunk by Sissoko gave Cal a 69-59 lead with three minutes remaining before Daquan Davis and Jamir Watkins scored in the paint to get Florida State within six points with 1:20 remaining. The Golden Bears then closed out the win, going 8 for 8 from the free-throw line in the final 70 seconds.
 
Earlier in the second half, a dunk by Jerry Deng gave the Seminoles a 51-49 lead with about 12 minutes remaining but the Seminoles were held to eight points in the next nine minutes, at one point missing 11 shots in a row. Cal scored 18 points during FSU's cold stretch and the Bears led 67-55 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.
 
All five starters scored in the first seven minutes for the Bears and their 13-0 run gave them a lead of 15-6. Florida State eventually took a 29-27 lead with about four minutes left in the half before Cal finished with a 10-4 run and a 37-33 lead at the break.
 
The Bears grabbed a season-high 47 rebounds including 24 on the offensive glass, the most by an ACC team this season.
 
Watkins had 18 points, Malique Ewin 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Deng 11 points for FSU (13-6, 4-4).
 
Cal was without leading scorer Andrej Stojakovic (18.9 PPG), who missed his first game of the season due to an illness.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears host Miami on Saturday, tipping off at 5:30 p.m. PT in Haas Pavilion. ACC Network will broadcast the contest.
 
SUPPORT THE BEARS
Tickets for the 2024-25 campaign can be purchased by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets, calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or emailing goldstandard@berkeley.edu. Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men's Basketball Excellence Initiative or the California Legends Collective.
 
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