Bears blow big lead, but win chippy game

SAN DIEGO — For a few wild seconds, Cal’s players, led by Don Coleman, celebrated as if they’d won a championship.

The Bears earned the chance to get a little crazy by surviving a chippy final few minutes of a 63-62 victory against San Diego State after they had blown a 14-point lead.

Juhwan Harris-Dyson made two free throws with 7.8 seconds left and Coleman converted a threepoint play in the final minute for the Bears (4-6).

“I had to show the crowd a little something because of the boos,” Coleman said.

Coleman was booed every time he touched the ball in the final 9½ minutes after he and the Aztecs’ Malik Pope got tangled up on the floor. As they were untangling, Coleman kicked at Pope. Both got personal fouls.

Cal scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 48-34 lead. But San Diego State (7-3) was whittling away at its deficit and had gotten to within 55-49 with 9:42 left when Coleman and Pope clashed.

“I thought I got fouled so I was kind of frustrated,” Coleman said. “He kind of grabbed my foot so I kind of like kicked him off me. That was it, really.”

Cal went cold and San Diego State kept charging, taking a 62-58 lead before Coleman’s three-point play with 50.5 seconds left. An Aztecs turnover preceded Harris-Dyson’s tying and winning free throws.