Cal overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half, carried by Jaylon Tyson, scoring 23 of his 30 points, in an 82-78 victory over Colorado on Wednesday at Berkeley, Calif.
Jalen Cone, who had 17 points, made two free throws with 1.9 seconds left to secure the win.
Cal (6-10, 2-3 Pac-12) won its second straight game, while Colorado lost its third in a row (11-5, 2-3).
The Buffaloes, whose skid came after a six-game win streak, were led by Eddie Lampkin’s 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Cone’s 3-pointer with 2:33 left gave Cal its biggest lead to that point, 73-70.
Cal made 14 of 30 shots from beyond the arc, 9 of 15 in the second half.
Jalen Celestine made two free throws with 1:27 left to increase Cal’s lead to 75-70.
Colorado’s Cody Williams, who played after missing the previous seven games with a wrist injury, was fouled while making a drive to the basket with 1:12 left. His subsequent free throw cut the lead to 75-73.
Williams finished with 16 points.
Tyson drove the lane and converted a dunk with 48 seconds left to put California ahead 77-73.
Tristan da Silva, who had 20 points, converted a 3-pointer on Colorado’s ensuing position.
Tyson again drove the lane but was fouled by Lampkin with 24.7 seconds remaining. He made both free throws to give California a 79-76 lead.
Williams answered with a one-handed runner in the lane with 12.4 seconds.
After Cone made one of two free throws, da Silva missed a 3-point attempt with four seconds left. Cone grabbed the rebound and was fouled by da Silva with 1.3 seconds left. He then made both free throws.
The Buffaloes, who led by 20 points late in the first half, still were up 50-31 with 17:18 remaining.
Cal outscored Colorado 24-6 over the next eight minutes to cut the lead to 56-55.
Tyson had 13 points in the stretch, which included Colorado going 3 for 14 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range.
da Silva made a jumper with 7:09 left to give Colorado a 62-56 lead.
Colorado responded with seven unanswered points, capped by Tyson’s dunk with 5:38 left that gave Cal its first lead of the game, 63-62.
–Field Level Media