BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Jovan Blacksher Jr. scored 18 points, Jeremiah Wilkinson added 14 points, and California defeated N.C. State 74-62 on Wednesday night.
The Golden Bears held the Wolfpack to 2 of 12 shooting, including nine misses in a row, over the final 6 1/2 minutes.
Rytis Petraitis hit a 3-pointer to give Cal a 47-46 lead with 13 minutes left and his next basket put the Bears up 62-54 with a little under seven minutes to go.
The Bears then wrapped it up with a 10-0 run that gave them a 72-57 lead with about 90 seconds remaining.
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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Mark Madsen of the California Golden Bears yells during the second half of the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Haas Pavilion on February 05, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) -
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Mady Sissoko #12 of the California Golden Bears blocks Ben Middlebrooks #34 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the second half at Haas Pavilion on February 05, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) -
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Rytis Petraitis #31 of the California Golden Bears shoots against Ismael Diouf #33 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the second half at Haas Pavilion on February 05, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) -
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Jeremiah Wilkinson #0 of the California Golden Bears drives against Marcus Hill #10 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the second half at Haas Pavilion on February 05, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) -
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Jeremiah Wilkinson #0 of the California Golden Bears reacts after making a three-pointer against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Haas Pavilion on February 05, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) -
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Ismael Diouf #33 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack goes up for the shot against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on February 05, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) -
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina State Wolfpack coaches during the first half against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on February 05, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images)
Joshua Ola-Joseph scored 13 points for Cal (12-11, 5-7 ACC) and Mady Sissoko grabbed 13 rebounds. Andre Stojakovic made his return from an illness and scored six points in his first action since Cal defeated N.C. State 65-62 on Jan. 18 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Marcus Hill had 20 points for the Wolfpack (9-13, 2-9), who have lost seven games in a row.
Blacksher hit three 3-pointers in the first half and scored 15 points. The Golden Bears led for the last 12 1/2 minutes and their lead reached eight points with five minutes to go. Cal led 34-30 at halftime.
Cal hosts Wake Forest on Saturday when N.C. State visits Stanford.