Cal (9-3, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. No. 18 Arizona (11-2, 0-0 Pac-12)

Friday, Dec. 30 | 8 PM PT | Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.

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BERKELEY -- The Golden Bears officially begin Pac-12 action on Friday when California hosts 18th-ranked Arizona at 8 p.m. in Haas Pavilion to tip off league play. The contest airs live on ESPN2 as well as on KGO radio.

The Bears went 9-3 in the nonconference portion of their schedule, suffering their first home loss since March 1, 2015 to No. 12 Virginia to close out the slate. It was one of just three nonconference losses at home in head coach Cuonzo Martin's tenure, with Cal owning a 24-3 record in Haas in Martin's three years at Cal.

Cal begins its Pac-12 campaign leading the league in scoring defense (59.3 ppg), field goal percentage defgense (36.6 percent), defensive rebound percentage (78.3 percent) and rebounding offense (41.5 rpg).  Individually, three Bears are averaging in double figures, led by Charlie Moore's 16.1 points alongside Jabari Bird's 15.7 and Ivan Rabb's 14.6.

A win over the Wildcats would mark Cal's first victory over an AP Top 25 opponent at home since Feb. 11, 2016 (83-63 win vs. No. 11 Oregon)

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance via CalBears.com or by calling (800) 462-3277. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and online via WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app, with Sean Farnham and Roxy Bernstein on the call. The California Golden Bears Sports Network (KGO 810 AM) has the radio call from Todd McKim and Jay John. Follow the Bears on social media for a behind-the-scenes look at all the action at Facebook.com/CalMensBball and on Twitter and Instagram @CalMensBball.

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SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

Last Meeting: No. 25 California fell to No. 18 Arizona, 64-61, on March 3, 2016 in Tucson
Series Record: Arizona leads, 60-31
Arizona's 2016-17 Record: 11-2, 0-0 Pac-12
Arizona's Last Game: Defeated New Mexico 77-46 on Dec. 20
• Arizona's two losses came against Butler (69-65) and Gonzaga (69-62). Both of those losses came at neutral sites.
• Four Wildcats own double-figure scoring totals, led by Lauri Markkanen with 16.1 points per game
• Rawle Alkins (12.4), Kobi Simmons (12.2) and Dusan Ristic (10.5) also average in the double figures.
• Arizona is limiting opponents to 60.8 points per game, a mark that ranks second in the conference behind Cal.
• The Wildcats lead the Pac-12 in rebounding defense (30.5 rpg)

CAL RECORDS AGAINST ARIZONA
Points: 34, Connie White, Dec. 27, 1974
Rebounds: 22, Mark McNamara, Jan. 30, 1982
FG: 16, Connie White, Dec. 27, 1974
3P: 8, Jerome Randle, March 5, 2009
FT: 11, Butch Hays, Jan. 30, 1982

LAST TIME OUT

Cal's 27-game home-winning streak was snapped in a 56-52 loss to No. 12 Virginia
• Jabari Bird led the Bears with 15 points, including four 3-pointers.
• Ivan Rabb grabbed nine rebounds in the first half and finished with 12 boards, one shy of his season high.
• For the fifth time this season, Cal surrendered 22 or fewer points in the first half, allowing the Cavaliers just 22 in the first 20 minutes.
• Virginia snapped Cal's 27-game home win streak, which dated back to March 1, 2015, after outscoring the Bears 34-30 in the second half. Both teams were tied, 22-22, at halftime. 

FOR OPENERS

Cal is 7-3 in its last 10 Pac-12 openers. Over that span, the Golden Bears have faced Arizona twice, winning 69-55 in the 2008-09 season and losing in Tucson to the then-No. 7 Wildcats 94-85 on Dec. 28, 2006. The Bears have won three consecutive conference openers, with a 79-65 victory over Colorado in Berkeley last season, an 81-75 win over then-No. 19 Washington at Haas the previous year, and a 69-62 win at Stanford in 2014. 

DEFENDING THE HOME COURT

Cal's defense has been particularly stingy inside Haas Pavilion this year, with the Bears surrendering just 58.2 ppg and holding opponents to 36.4 percent shooting from the floor. Cal owns a +8.1 rebounding margin and is averaging 4.9 blocks per game. The Bears are averaging 73.9 points at home, including four 80-point games. Individually, three Cal players are contributing double-figure point totals at home: Charlie Moore (16.6 points per game), Ivan Rabb (16.1) and Jabari Bird (14.8).

BEARS BUILD ON DEFENSIVE PROWESS

With defense as a staple of head coach Cuonzo Martin's program, California is once again emerging as a force on the floor, where the Bears rank among the nation's elite in five different categories. Cal is seventh in defensive rebounds per game (30.42), 8th for field goal percentage defense (36.6 percent), 11th for scoring defense (59.3 ppg), 13th for rebound margin (+8.8) and 15th for total rebounds per game (41.50).

BIRD EYES 1,000

Senior guard Jabari Bird is looking to be the first Bear this season to join Cal's 1,000-point club. Bird, who currently owns 934 career points, would be the 47th Golden Bear to score 1,000 points in his Cal career. The Bears lost two 1,000-point club members last season with the departures of Tyrone Wallace (1,613) and Jordan Mathews (1,202).

Bird has been a spark for the Bears this season. After missing six games with a back injury, he paved the way for Cal's record-breaking win over Cal Poly with a career-high 25 points. Since his return against Princeton on Dec. 6, Bird is averaging a team-leading 16.3 points per game, plus six rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in four of five appearances since his return, including two 20-point outings against Seton Hall and Cal Poly and a team-high 15 against 12th-ranked Virginia. Bird was also one point shy of his first career double-double with his 22 point, nine rebound performance vs. the Pirates. 

PARTY LIKE A BLOCK STAR

Kingsley Okoroh is climbing up the Cal career record charts for his prowess in protecting the rim. Okoroh currently ranks eighth all-time with 91 career blocked shots, and with 30 blocks this season, Okoroh is three blocks away from matching his season-high of 33.

1. David Kravish (2012-15) -- 226
2. Michael Stewart (1994-97) -- 207
3. DeVon Hardin (2005-08) -- 132
...
7. Brian Hendrick (1990-93) -- 98
8. Kingsley Okoroh (2014-present) -- 91

Okoroh's paint presence ranks among the best in the country, where he is top 25 in two categories. Okoroh is averaging 2.50 blocked shots per game, a total that ranks 23rd in the nation and fifth in the Pac-12, and his 30 total blocks this season are 25th in NCAA action.

In a four-game stretch from Nov. 21 to Nov. 30, the Derby, England set career-highs in each game. He started the string off by setting a personal-best rebound total of 9 against San Diego State, and followed the performance with a career-high 5 blocks against Wyoming. He capped off the week by matching both his career-best point (10) and rebound (9) totals and setting a new personal-best mark for assists with 3 against Southeastern Louisiana. Against Louisiana Tech, Okoroh set new career-high boards (12) and assist (4) totals on top of matching his career-high blocks (5).

NEXT UP

California begins the new year with its fourth game in a five-game homestand, taking on Arizona State at 7 p.m. on Jan. 1. The game will be televised live on the Pac-12 Network.