Cal at Seattle

Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 7 PM PT | KeyArena | Seattle, Wash.
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California men's basketball heads north for its non-conference road finale with a chance to even out its record against Seattle. The Golden Bears meet the Redhawks on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Seattle's KeyArena. Fans can follow the action via the WAC Digital Network or by tuning in to KGO 810 AM.

Tuesday's game marks Cal's second road game in three contests, with the Bears carrying a two-game win streak to the Emerald City. The young Cal squad has showcased its grit through two tough contests recently, starting with the Bears' road game in hostile Viejas Arena. Cal topped San Diego State 63-62 in the final eight seconds of the game after going 10 minutes without a field goal and held the Aztecs to 18 points less  than their season average. Against CSU Fullerton, the Bears stymied a Titan rally to push the game into overtime before finally pulling away easily in extra minutes.

The 1-2 California duo of Don Coleman and Darius McNeill have led the charge in Cal's back-to-back wins, with the guard combo averaging at least 20 points apiece. Coleman is averaging 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the last two outings, with an 80.0 percent (20-25) clip from the free throw line. McNeill is averaging 20.0 points, including six three-pointers with a 60.0 mark from down town, with 3.0 steals per game and a 63.6 (14-22) mark from the field. Two other California players -- Marcus Lee (12.5 points per game) and Justice Sueing (10.0 ppg) -- are averaging double figures in Cal's recent wins, with Lee picking up his fourth double-double of the season against CSU Fullerton.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Tuesday's game airs on the WAC Digital Network, which can be accessed at WACSports.com/watch. 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 REDHAWKS

Last Meeting: The Golden Bears extended their win streak over the Redhawks to two games with a 66-52 victory on Dec. 1, 2015
Series Record: Cal leads, 6-2
Seattle's 2017-18 Record: 8-5
Seattle's Last Game: The Redhawks topped Portland, 89-76, in Seattle
• Seattle has five players scoring in the double figures -- Matej Kavas (18.3), Jordan Hill (14.0), Josh Hearlihy (13.6), Aaron Menzies (11.8) and Richaud Gittens (10.3).
• Menzies is averaging a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.
• Seattle is outscoring opponents 81.6-73.6, with a +6.4 rebound margin.
• The Redhawks are 8-0 at home, including three wins at KeyArena over Idaho State (73-67), Eastern Washington (84-65) and Portland (89-76).
• This is head coach Jim Hayford's first season with Seattle after he joined the Redhawks on March 29, 2017. Hayford spent six seasons at Eastern Washington, and 18 overall as a head coach, amassing a 360-175 (.673) overall record.

LAST TIME OUT

Cal held off CSU Fullerton, 95-89 in overtime, to start a two-game winning streak.
• Cal played its first overtime game of the season.
• Darius McNeill logged career-high totals in points scored (30), assists (6), steals (5) and rebounds (6).
• McNeill extended his three-pointer streak to 11 games -- every game of his collegiate career -- and went 4-for-7 from downtown for the eighth multi-three game of his career.
• Marcus Lee poured in 19 points and matched a season-high 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
• Don Coleman scored 26 points -- his sixth game with at least 20 points -- including 23 points after halftime.

BEARS GIVE BACK

California men's basketball helped spread some holiday spirit this week when the Golden Bears banded together with Cal women's basketball at the UCSF Benioff Oakland Children's Hospital holiday party. Both Bear squads interacted with the oncology department, signing autographs, taking photos with patients and Santa and even participated in some dancing and photobooth fun.

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 51 blocks so far this season.The Bears rank among the Top 20 nationally for total blocks (14th, 67) and blocked shots per game (17th, 6.1 per game). 

Okoroh and Lee are both in the top 35 individually for total blocks and blocked shots per game. Lee is averaging 2.45 blocked shots per game, ranked 26th nationally, and is 22nd nationally with 27 total blocks. Okoroh has 26 blocks, good for 27th in the country, and is 32nd with 2.36 blocks per game.

IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

Individually, Cal student-athletes rank in the Top 50 for:
• Blocked Shots Per Game -- Marcus Lee (26th, 2.45) and Kingsley Okoroh  (32nd, 2.36)
• Double-Doubles -- Marcus Lee (48th, 4)
• Free Throw Attempts -- Don Coleman (4th, 104)
• Free Throws Made -- Don Coleman (6th, 79)
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game -- Marcus Lee (27th, 3.45)
• Points Per Game -- Don Coleman (32nd, 21.1)
• Total Blocks -- Marcus Lee (22nd, 27) and Kingsley Okoroh (27th, 26)
• Total Field Goal Attempts -- Don Coleman (17th, 183)
• Total Points -- Don Coleman (26th, 232)

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 Darius McNeill (13.1 points per game) and Justice Sueing (11.3 ppg) 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, then topped it four games later with a 30-point outing against CSU Fullerton. McNeill became the 40th player in Cal basketball history to score 30 points in a game. Against the Titans, he also recorded career-high totals for assists (6), steals (5) and rebounds (6). He's also hit a three-pointer in every game of the season for a 11-game streak, including eight 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

Cal's nonconference home finale is set for Thursday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. when the Golden Bears host the Portland State Vikings, live on Pac-12 Network.