Cal vs. CSU Fullerton

Saturday, Dec. 16 | 1 PM PT | Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.
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California men's basketball returns to Pete Newell Court for the penultimate home game of the non-conference season when the Golden Bears host the CSU Fullerton Titans on Saturday at 1 p.m. The action airs live on the Pac-12 Network, with a radio broadcast on KGO 810 AM.

The contest is the first of a Haas hoops twinbill, with Cal women's basketball set to take on BYU in their non-conference home finale at 5 p.m. Both games are part of a Star Wars Day promotion, with each team offering Star Wars-themed promotions and videoboard content in conjunction with the release of the franchise's latest film.

Cal returns home after earning a hard-fought, 63-62 victory over San Diego State in Viejas Arena last Saturday. With less than eight seconds on the clock and the Bears down 62-61, rookie Juhwan Harris-Dyson drove toward the Cal basket and earned two free throws. Harris-Dyson made both, and the Cal defense stepped up to stop the Aztecs from the buzzer beater. The Bears snapped a four-game losing streak in their series with the Aztecs, and avoided a third-straight loss this season.

A trio of Golden bears are averaging double figures at home this season, led by 20.0 points per game from Don Coleman. Marcus Lee is averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds on Pete Newell Court, while Darius McNeill is scoring 10.0 points. The frosh has scored in double figures in seven games this season.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Saturday's game is the first of a Pac-12 Networks doubleheader airing live from Haas Pavilion, with Mary Murphy and JB Long on the call for both games. 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.
 

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SCOUTING THE TITANS

Last Meeting: Cal met CSU Fullerton on March 13, 1987 in the NIT, defeating the Titans 72-68 in overtime
Series Record: Cal leads, 1-0
CSU Fullerton's 2017-18 Record: 6-3
CSU Fullerton's Last Game: The Titans downed Utah Valley, 91-83 at home
• Kyle Allmand leads the Titans with 16.1 points. Second on the team is Khalil Ahmad (14.3 points), followed by Jackson Rowe (12.9).
• Ahmad is the reigning Big West Player of the Week after scoring a combined 58 points in Fullerton's wins over Portland and Utah Valley.
• The Titans are Top 4 in the Big West in points allowerd per game (2nd, 65.6), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, 29.3 percent) and opponent field goal percentage (4th, 40.9 percent).
• CSU Fullerton is on a five-game winning streak.
• Two of CSU Fullerton's losses have come to ranked opponents this season, falling to No. 10 USC 84-42, and No. 21 St. Mary's, 76-57. The Titans also lost to Georgia, 64-57.

LAST TIME OUT

Cal snapped a two-game skid with a win on the road over the San Diego State Aztecs, 63-62
• Cal outrebounded San Diego State 33-24, led by 10 boards from Kingsley Okoroh and a career-high seven from Don Coleman.
• Coleman also set a career-high assist total with five assists.
• Three Cal players scored in double figures -- Coleman (19), Justice Sueing (12) and Darius McNeill (10).
• Juhwan Harris-Dyson's two free throws lifted Cal to the win.
• The Bears shot 44.9 percent from the floor despite going more than 10 minutes without a field goal in the second half.
• Cal snapped a four-game losing streak to the Aztecs.
• It was Cal's first win in a true non-conference road game since Dec. 7, 2014, when the Bears defeated Nevada 63-56.
• The Golden Bears limited the Aztecs to 62 points. Entering the game, San Diego State was averaging 80.8 points. 

BIG KIDS ON THE BLOCK

California's senior big men are among the country's best players on the block, with Kingsley Okoroh and Marcus Lee combining for 49 blocks so far this season.The Bears rank among the Top 15 nationally for total blocks (13th, 62) and blocked shots per game (12th, 6.2 per game). 

Okoroh and Lee are both in the top 35 individually for total blocks and blocked shots per game. Okoroh checks in at 22nd with 25 total blocks, and 26th with 2.50 per game. Lee is 27th with 24 total blocks and 32nd with an average of 2.40 per game.

IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

Individually, Cal student-athletes rank in the Top 50 for:
• Blocked Shots Per Game -- Kingsley Okoroh (26th, 2.50) and Marcus Lee (32nd, 2.40)
• Free Throw Attempts -- Don Coleman (9th, 88)
• Free Throws Made -- Don Coleman (10th, 66)
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game -- Marcus Lee (33rd, 3.30)
• Points Per Game -- Don Coleman (39th, 20.6)
• Total Blocks -- Kingsley Okoroh (22nd, 25) and Marcus Lee (27th, 24)
• Total Field Goal Attempts -- Don Coleman (22nd, 160)
• Total Points -- Don Coleman (36th, 206)

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, with Justice Sueing and Darius McNeill averaging above 11.0 points.

McNeill, a Houston, Texas product poured in back-to-back career-high point totals, starting with 18 points against Chaminade and improving to 22 points against CSUN. He's also hit a three-pointer in every game of the season for a 10-game streak, including seven games with multiple three-point makes.

Sueing scored a career-high 23 points against Chaminade, including 19 in the second half, and has scored in double figures in six games this season. His output comes after missing most of the preseason due to a stress fracture.

NEXT UP

The Bears take to the skies for their second road trip in three games, heading north this time to face Seattle on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. The game can be viewed on the WAC Digital Network.