Cal vs. CSUN
Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 8 PM PT | Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.
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California men's basketball returns to Haas Pavilion eager to snap a three-game losing streak when the Golden Bears host the CSUN Matadors Tuesday night on Pete Newell Court. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m., live on Pac-12 Network and on KGO 810 AM.After a grueling stretch of six games in 12 days, including three in a three-day span in Maui, California's young squad can enjoy some respite with CSUN's action as the first of only four in a 12-day period. The Bears continue to field one of the nation's youngest squads, with the fewest returning letterwinners of any team in the nation. Cal's three-game gauntlet in Maui included two contests against 2017 NCAA Tournament squads in No. 6 Wichita State and VCU, and the Bears fell in all three games. Despite the losses, Cal's rookies emerged as rising stars, with Justice Sueing and Darius McNeill each logging career-high totals, and Grant Anticevich contributing valuable minutes in the front court with vets Marcus Lee and Kingsley Okoroh in foul trouble. Don Coleman, who ranks 11th in the nation in total points this season, turned in a career-high 35 points against the sixth-ranked Shockers.
Coleman, Sueing and McNeill are among the four Bears scoring in double figures this season, also joined by Marcus Lee with a near-double-double on 10.5 points per game an 9.2 rebounds per game. Lee is eighth in the nation in offensive rebounds, averaging 4.33 through six contests.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Roxy Bernstein and Bill Walton have the call this Tuesday, with all the action airing live on the Pac-12 Network. 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.
SCOUTING THE MATADORS
Last Meeting: Cal won, 80-63, on Nov. 16, 2010Series Record: Cal leads, 6-0, with a 1994-95 win forfeited due to use of an ineligible player
CSUN's 2017-18 Record: 1-4
CSUN's Last Game: The Matadors fell to Binghamton, 70-65
• Four CSUN players are averaging double figures -- Tavrion Dawson (15.4 points per game), Micheal Warren (13.4), Lyrik Shreiner (12.2) and Terrell Gomez (10.8)
• Zeno Lake leads CSUN on the boards, averaging 7.4.
• Two Matadors are shooting above 90 percent from the charity stripe -- Jalon Pipkins (100.0, 10-10) and Warren (92.3, 12-13).
• CSUN is 35-86 (40.7 percent) from downtown.
• The Matadors are on a four-game losing streak after opening the season with a 76-50 victory against Life Pacific.
LAST TIME OUT
Cal went 0-3 at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational• Cal dropped games to No. 6 Wichita State (92-82), VCU (83-69) and Chaminade (96-72) to finish in eighth place.
• The Bears played without their big men in several major stretches of tournament action, with Kingsley Okoroh and Marcus Lee both fouling out against No. 6 Wichita State and Lee fouling out against Chaminade.
• Three Bears averaged double figures in the tournament's three games -- Don Coleman (22.3 points per game), Justice Sueing (18.0) and Darius Mcneill (14.7)
• Coleman scored a career-high 35 points in Cal's loss to the Shockers.
• Sueing and Mcneill each poured in career-high point totals against Chaminade, scoring 23 and 18, respectively.
• Against VCU, California recorded 12 steals for the the first time in more than three seasons that the Golden Bears logged more than 10 steals against an opponent.
ROOKIES RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
With one of the youngest squads in the national, California's newcomers have been pushed to step up and contribute major minutes to the lineup. Two freshmen are averaging double figures for the Bears, led by Justice Sueing's 14.7 points alongside Darius McNeill's 11.5 points.Sueing scored a career-high 23 points against Chaminade, including 19 in the second half, and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. His output comes after missing most of the preseason due to a stress fracture.
McNeill is averaging 15.3 points in his last four outings since reaching double figures for the first time in Cal's game against Wofford. The Houston, Texas product poured in a career-high 18 points against Chaminade. He's also hit a three-pointer in every game of the season for a six-game streak, including four games with multiple three-point makes.
NATIONALLY...
As a Team, Cal ranks in the Top 35 in:• Total Blocks -- 18, 35
• Blocked Shots Per Game -- 29th, 5.8
• Free Throw Attempts -- 32nd, 158
Individually, Cal student-athletes rank in the Top 50 for:
• Blocked Shots Per Game -- Kingsley Okoroh (40th, 2.33)
• Double-Doubles -- Marcus Lee (20th, 3)
• Free Throw Attempts -- Don Coleman (5th, 58)
• Free Throws Made -- Don Coleman (10th, 42)
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game -- Marcus Lee (8th, 4.33)
• Points Per Game -- Don Coleman (9th, 24.0)
• Total Blocks -- Kingsley Okoroh (26th, 14) and Marcus Lee (35th, 13)
• Total Field Goal Attempts -- Don Coleman (8th, 104)
• Total Field Goals Made -- Don Coleman (23rd, 45)
• Total Points -- Don Coleman (11th, 144)
• Total Rebounds -- Marcus Lee (44th, 55)