FINAL: Cal 75, Murray State 70.

Cal isn’t closing out strong on the perimeter, and the Racers are making them pay for it with three-balls. Fortunately for the Bears, Murray State is having trouble stopping them on offense.

Cal’s ball movement is noticeably more fluid with Smith on the floor, looking for his teammates before his own shot.

However, the Racers have reduced the gap due to Bears’ mistakes on defense: missed box-outs, weak transition defense and poor closeouts. The lead doesn’t seem to be in any real danger though with the 7:13 left to play, as the Bears are up 64-50.

Nevermind … Randle with a turnover in the key for a Racer lay-in; the lead is cut to 12. The senior follows it up with an uncharacteristic miss on a floater in the lane.

Sanders-Frison is out-hustling everyone on the floor. He just demanded the ball in the post and man-handled his defender for an easy left-handed lay-in. Cal 66-52, 5:08 to play. Sanders-Frison just picked up fourth foul trying to take a charge, so he was taken out.

Cal is having a lot of trouble getting back on defense in the second half. The Bears seem to be trailing the Racers back the other way more often than not. Another fast break score for Murray State cuts the Bears’ lead to nine, 66-57.

And another fast break, 66-59. Crowd starting to realize maybe the Bears are slipping a little, or a lot. Just over three minutes to go. Half the lead gone in less than two minutes, not looking good for Cal.

Boykin’s first free throw is good, misses the second, but gets bailed out on a lane violation and makes his third attempt.

Cal gets lost on a pick and roll for an open lay-in, so its lead is up to seven.

Randle’s two free throws are good. Murray State comes down and hits a three, cutting the Bears’ lead to six with under two minutes left.

Boykin bailed out with a foul on the drive to the basket. Misses both free throws. Theo Robertson saves it on a huge hustle play. The Bears are showing patience and do not immediately jack up a three. Instead, they pass it around for a little until Boykin gets caught after he picked up his dribble. Timeout Cal.

Randle makes a difficult lay-up, lead to eight. Racers miss an ambitious three. Cal burns the clock for nearly the whole shot clock, Randle passes to Gutierrez under the hoop and is fouled. Gutierrez makes one of two. This game should be over.

And I’m wrong again … It took Murray State literally four seconds to hit a three, lead down to six.

Sanders-Frison is fouled with 19.1 seconds left. Ice water in his veins, he makes both.

Racers miss two threes, but make a third with 1.2 seconds left. Cal is up by five.