MBB11/21/2015 6:17 AM | By: Cal Athletics
Cal-East Carolina Postgame Notes
With tonight's 70-62 California victory, the Golden Bears improve to 10-2 in non-conference home games under Cuonzo Martin. The Bears have won their first three games to open a season for the sixth consecutive season.
Ivan Rabb finished with his second career double-double and his third straight game of double figures in points with 14 and 13 rebounds, tying his season best in both categories. He also had a season-best five blocked shots tonight, the most since David Kravish also had five against Alcorn State last year. Rabb now has nine blocks through three games this season. Rabb connected on four of six free throws making him 16-for-18 on the year. With the game tied at 11-11 in the first half, Rabb made two free throws, blocked a shot and then was good on a put-back to give Cal a 15-11 lead in a four-point swing.
Cal had six blocked shots as a team for the second time this year (Rice, 7).
Four of the five Cal starters hit double figures in scoring, led by Tyrone Wallace's 20 points. Wallace has led the Bears in scoring in four consecutive games, dating back to last season's Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal game against Arizona on March 12, 2015. Wallace enjoyed his 16th consecutive game in double figures scoring. He ranks No. 21 in career points, now with 1,260. David Kravish (2012-15) is 20th with 1,266. It was Wallace's 18th career 20-point performance.
Jaylen Brown was second in scoring for the Bears tonight with 16 points, one shy of his season high. Along with his personal-best 10 rebounds, Brown notched his first career double-double.
After hitting one 3-pointer tonight, Jordan Mathews needs 21 more to crack Cal's career top-10 list.
Cal opened the game on an 8-1 run through the first six minutes before ECU scored its first field goal.
The first half went back and forth until the 5:42 mark when the Bears went on an 8-0 run to take a 27-17 lead with just over two minutes left until the Pirates snapped their scoring drought. Cal never gave up the lead the rest of the way.
Tonight's attendance was 8,658.