Maui Invitational: Cal vs. VCU
Tuesday, Nov. 21 | 11 AM HT/1 PM PT | Lahaina Civic Center | Maui, Hawai'i
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The Golden Bears continue play at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Tuesday when Cal meets VCU on Tuesday at 11 a.m. HT/1 p.m. PT. The action tips off from the Lahaina Civic Center, live on ESPN2 and on the California Golden Bears Sports Network on KGO 810 AM.The Bears and Rams each moved to the consolation side of the bracket after falling in the first round of games. VCU dropped its opening game to Marquette, 94-83, while Cal fell to sixth-ranked Wichita State, 92-82. Cal and VCU have met just once in program history, with the Bears taking a 66-57 win over the Rams at the 1997 Golden Bear Classic.
The Bears held as much as an 18-point lead over the Shockers in the second half, but Marcus Lee and Kingsley Okoroh each fouled out as Wichita State overpowered Cal 54-35 in the second half. Don Coleman led the Bears in Monday's loss with a career-high 35 points, and Justice Sueing logged a career-best 20 points and six rebounds. Darius McNeill scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half, marking his second consecutive game in double figures.
Depending on the outcome of Tuesday's Game No. 6, the Bears will play on Wednesday at either 12 p.m. HT/2 p.m. PT or 9:30 a.m. HT/11:30 a.m. PT.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Every single game of this week's Maui Jim Maui Invitational airs live on the ESPN Family of Networks, with calls from Jay Bilas, Dan Shulman and Kanoa Leahey. Tuesday's action against the Rams airs on ESPN2 beginning at 11 a.m. HT/1 p.m. PT. The California Golden Bears Sports Network will offer play by play and analysis, as well as post-game interviews, from Todd McKim and Jay John live on KGO 810 AM. Live stats, full broadcast details and more can be accessed via the Cal men's basketball schedule page on CalBears.com, and fans can follow the Bears on social media via @CalMBball on Twitter and Instagram, and at Facebook.com/CalMBball.
BEAR NECESSITIES: CAL'S TOP STORYLINES
• The Bears currently own a 4-4 record in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.• California is 1-0 over VCU, with the teams' only meeting coming in 1997. The Bears defeated the Rams, 66-57, on Dec. 29, 1997 in the Golden Bear Classic.
• Cal made 10 three-pointers against Wichita State for the first time since a Feb. 17, 2017 game against Stanford where the Bears recorded 11 treys. Prior to Monday's game, Cal's season-high for triples was only 5.
• Cal was a season-best 87.0 percent from the charity stripe (20-23) against the Shockers, topping a previous high of 80.0 percent (16-20).
• With 35 points against the Shockers, Don Coleman set a new career-high total and scored 30+ points for the third time this season. He's logged 30+ three times in the last four games.
• Coleman is one of only 18 players in Cal basketball history to score 30 at least thrice in his career. Cal's last player to log at least three 30-point outings in his career was Allen Crabbe.
• Coleman is the first Bear to score 35+ points since Charlie Moore's 38 against UC Irvine on Nov. 16, 2016.
• Coleman has reached double figures in each of his last 5 games, dating back to Cal's NIT First Round loss to CSU Bakersfield to end the 2017 season. He is averaging 27.6 points in that span.
• Two California freshmen are averaging double-figure scoring for the Golden Bears -- Justice Sueing (13.5 points per game) and Darius McNeill (10.3).
• Sueing has scored in double figures in three of his four appearances despite missing most of the preseason due to a stress fracture in his foot.
• Sueing set a career-high 20 point and 6-rebound total against the Shockers.
• McNeill is averaging 16.5 points in his last two outings. The frosh set a career-high 17 points in the game against Wofford, and was one point shy of matching that total against Wichita State.
• Kingsley Okoroh and Marcus Lee each fouled out for the first time this season against Wichita State.