Saint Joseph's makes 19-point comeback to overcome Cal

Hawks advance to NIT quarterfinals with 76-75 win over Bears

Mar. 23, 2026 at 9:10am

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Jaiden Glover-Toscano had 24 points and a game-ending blocked shot to cap a 19-point comeback as visiting Saint Joseph's nipped Cal 76-75 on Sunday night in the second round of the NIT in Berkeley, Calif. The Hawks (24-11) advance to play New Mexico in the NIT quarterfinals after overcoming a 61-42 deficit in the second half.

Why it matters

Saint Joseph's impressive comeback victory over a strong Cal team showcases the resilience and determination of the Hawks, who have now advanced to the NIT quarterfinals. This result will boost the team's confidence and momentum as they prepare to face New Mexico in the next round.

The details

The Bears led 61-42 with 13:34 left after a 3-pointer by Chris Bell, but the Hawks chipped away at the lead. A rim-rattling dunk by Dasear Haskins cut the lead to nine with 6:54 to play, and a basket by Glover-Toscano made it a four-point game with 4:11 to go. Justin Pippen made a free throw for Cal to give them a 75-73 lead with 2:10 left, but the Bears would not score again. Hawks guard Derek Simpson drained a three with 1:50 to go to give St. Joseph the lead, and Glover-Toscano's late block preserved the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday night, March 23, 2026.
  • Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 16-8 lead seven minutes into the game.
  • Cal took over midway through the first half and led 41-33 at halftime.
  • Cal opened the second half on an 11-2 run to build the lead to 61-42 with 13:34 left.
  • Saint Joseph's then went on a 19-0 run to erase the deficit and take the lead late in the game.

The players

Jaiden Glover-Toscano

The Saint Joseph's player who had 24 points and a game-ending blocked shot to cap the 19-point comeback.

Chris Bell

The Cal player who scored 23 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Bears.

Dasear Haskins

The Saint Joseph's player who had 17 points, including a rim-rattling dunk that cut Cal's lead to nine points late in the game.

Derek Simpson

The Saint Joseph's guard who drained a 3-pointer with 1:50 left to give the Hawks the lead for good.

Lee Dort

The Cal player who had the ball stripped late in the game, leading to Saint Joseph's go-ahead 3-pointer.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

Saint Joseph's will face New Mexico in the NIT quarterfinals. The winner of that game will advance to the NIT semifinals.

The takeaway

Saint Joseph's impressive comeback victory over a strong Cal team showcases the resilience and determination of the Hawks, who have now advanced to the NIT quarterfinals. This result will boost the team's confidence and momentum as they prepare to face New Mexico in the next round.