Bears Fall To San Diego State In Sacramento

Monday, November 21

Sacramento, CA

8:00 PM

California

2-1

San Diego State

3-1

Team	1	2	F
San Diego State	42	35	77
California	25	40	65

Notes Quotes

Ivan Rabb Made His 2016-17 Season Debut With A Double-Double Monday In Sacramento.

11/21/2016 10:21 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Quotes Notes

By: Cal Athletics

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A chilly first half from the floor left Cal to chase both a running San Diego State squad and the scoreboard over the final 20 minutes and the Bears could never quite catch up, dropping a 77-65 decision to the Aztecs at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Ivan Rabb made his 2016-17 season debut and posted his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds for Cal (2-1). Charlie Moore added 17 points while Kameron Rooks tied his career-high in blocks with four. Jeremy Hemsley led San Diego State (2-1) with 15 points.

After taking a 17-point deficit into halftime, the Bears showed their ability to adjust to start the second half with two quick buckets to narrow the gap. A mixture of San Diego State offense and fouls on both ends stunted that momentum though, and the Aztecs held a 58-40 lead by the under-12 media time out.

San Diego State maintained a 14-point lead by the under-eight but a layup by Rabb cut the deficit to single digits at 62-54 with 5:45 to play. As Cal tried to climb back into the game, SDSU had the answers it needed and the Bears couldn't get any closer. While the Bears won the rebounding battle 50-36, they also committed 16 turnovers to just five by San Diego State and that translated to a 23-5 advantage for the Aztecs in points off turnovers.

Though neither team got off to a particularly hot start on the offensive end, San Diego State established its rhythm first and as a result took a 42-25 lead into halftime. After going 4 for its first 18 from the floor to start the game, the Aztecs finished the half 9 for its last 15, including a 5 for 11 half from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Cal tried several different combinations to find a groove. The Bears went 4 for their first 17 from the field and, by the time Kingsley Okoroh scored on a turnaround down low with 2:48 left in the half, Cal had missed its previous 13 attempts.

A pair of free throws by Rabb and by a 3-pointer by Don Coleman gave Cal a brief injection of energy but San Diego State had the last word before heading to the locker room as a trey from Matt Shrigley put the Aztecs up by 17.

"Credit San Diego State for getting the win," head coach Cuonzo Martin said. "I thought they did a great job setting the tone early, taking away our options offensively, getting out in the passing lanes and forcing us to make one on one plays. I thought they did a good job capitalizing on quick shots, on fast shots and shots we didn't initially want in the offense and turning them into transition baskets for themselves."

Playing its first game away from Haas Pavilion in 2016-17 in the new home of the Sacramento Kings, Cal got a welcome return from Rabb, who made his season debut, as well as guard Grant Mullins but played without Jabari Bird (back). The game was part of a doubleheader that also included a win for UC Davis over Sacramento State.

Cal returns to action on Nov. 25 when it hosts Wyoming in an 8 p.m. game that will be televised by Pac-12 Networks. That begins a four-game homestand that will carry the Bears into the month of December and games against Southeast Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and Alcorn State will cap a stretch of eight straight games in Northern California to begin the season.