On Tuesday night at Columbia, Missouri, the Cal basketball team's promising early-season road victory took a turn for the worse. The Bears had managed to build a significant lead in the first half but faced a complete turnaround in the second half.

Coach's Perspective

Coach Mark Madsen expressed his disappointment, stating, "Give them credit, they completely dominated us in the second half. They came out with much more energy and tenacity than us." This shift in momentum was a crucial factor in the Bears' loss.

Second Half Struggles

The Tigers showed remarkable shooting prowess in the second half, shooting an astonishing 85 percent (22 for 26). This hot shooting allowed them to outscore Cal 63-42 and secure a 98-93 victory in the SEC-ACC Challenge. Missouri took control, outscoring the Bears 30-13 over the first 9 minutes of the second half, establishing a 65-64 advantage.

A dunk by center Mady Sissoki gave the Bears a brief lead with 8:39 to play, but Cal could not hold on. The Tigers were relentless and led by 5 or 6 points for much of the final 4 minutes. This late-game struggle was a significant blow to the Bears' hopes of a comeback.

Player Performances

Andrej Stojakovic led the Bears with a career-high 26 points, demonstrating his scoring ability. Freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson also had a strong game with 19 points before fouling out with 4:26 left. Rytis Petraitis added 17 points, and point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. had 13 points and eight assists in his return from injury. Sissoki contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.

Despite the efforts of these players, the Bears faced challenges without starters BJ Omot and DJ Campbell, who were absent for the fourth straight game. This absence likely affected the team's overall performance and chemistry on the court.

Road Record and Future Outlook

Cal (6-2) remains winless all-time on the road against SEC opponents. This loss adds to their challenges on the road, but the team will look to learn from this experience and improve in future games. Missouri, in its third season coached by former Cal guard Dennis Gates, improved to 7-1 with this victory.

The Bears will need to address their second-half struggles and find a way to maintain their energy and tenacity throughout the entire game. This setback will serve as a learning opportunity as they continue their season.