MBB1/24/2016 3:48 AM | By: Cal Athletics
California-Arizona Postgame Notes
With tonight's 74-73 California victory over Arizona, the Golden Bears improved to 13-0 in contests at Haas Pavilion this season. The 13 wins are the most since the 2011-12 season when Cal won its first 14 games on the home court.
Tonight's win was Cal's second over a top-25 team this season (No. 21/22 Utah, Jan. 3, 2016).
The Wildcats now lead the all-time series, 59-31, and Cal snapped a four-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
After Arizona led, 37-35, at halftime, a three-pointer by Jabari Bird gave the Bears the lead at the 19:18 mark in the second half. Cal pushed that lead out to as many as nine on two separate occasions and never relinquished the lead until Arizona tied it with three minutes remaining in the game. After Arizona tied the game again with 39 seconds left, a free throw by Jaylen Brown with 18 seconds left proved to be the gamewinner.
With his season-high 28 points, Jordan Mathews became the 46th player in the history of the program to reach 1,000 career points. Now with 1,015 career points, he currently ranks 45th on the school's career scoring list. Charlie Johnson (1968-71) is 44th with 1,025 points. Today was also Mathews' third 20-point performance this season.
From behind the arc, Mathews passed Patrick Christopher (2007-10) for fifth on Cal's career three-point list. Currently with 168 career treys, Richard Midgley (2003-06) is fourth with 183. Mathews has also made 15 of his last 29 three-point attempts in his last four games, and his six treys tonight were a season best.
Mathews was one of four Bears to reach double figures in scoring. Brown finished with 15, and he also notched a season-best seven assists. He also shot 7-for-11 from the free throw line. Bird added 11, while Ivan Rabb finished with 10.
The Bears drained eight shots from 3-point range. Cal has made at least five 3-point shots in 17 of its past 18 games.
Having entered the game with 96 blocks, the Bears added four more to that total, including two from Brown, tying his season best for the third time this season.
Kameron Rooks notched a career-high seven rebounds, and he collected two steals for the first time in his career.
Today's attendance was a sellout crowd of 11,858, Cal's largest attendance this season.