Cal vs. Central Arkansas
Wednesday, Dec. 6 | 7 PM PT | Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.
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It's a Bear vs. Bear brawl on Wednesday evening on Pete Newell Court when the California Golden Bears welcome the Central Arkansas Bears for a midweek tilt. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Haas Pavilion, with all the action carried live on the Pac-12 Network and on KGO 810 a.m.Cal is coming off its second home loss of the season to a Saint Mary's squad that limited the Bears to a season-low 63 points. Marcus Lee poured in a career-high 23 points, going 10-14 from the field, while senior teammate Nick Hamilton notched a personal-best 16 points on a perfect 7-7 night, including two three-pointers. With 16.6 points per game in Haas Pavilion, Lee is one of three Cal players scoring in double figures at home, with the Bears led by Don Coleman's 20.0 points and Darius McNeill chipping in 10.0 ppg.
Alongside McNeill, the youth-filled squad has also seen numerous newcomers step up, with four different freshmen earning starts through eight games this season. McNeill, who has hit at least one trey in every game so far this season, is averaging 11.8 points through all eight games, second among his rookie class behind Justice Sueing's 12.8 points.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Wednesday's game airs alive on the Pac-12 Network and on www.pac-12.com/live, with commentary from Ben Braun and Spero Dedes. 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 BEARS
Last Meeting: Have not metSeries Record: 0-0
UCA's 2017-18 Record: 4-5
UCA's Last Game: Central Arkansas misfired at the buzzer to fall 78-76 to San Francisco.
• Four Central Arkansas players have started every game this season -- Jordan Howard, Thatch Unruh, Ethan Lee and Hayden Koval. Mathieu Kamba has started eight games.
• Howard paces the Bears with 23.6 points per game, and Kamba is also averaging double figures at 11.3 points.
• Howard is also UCA's career three-point leader.
• Kamba is the Bears' leading rebounder at 5.2 rebounds per game.
• Central Arkansas is averaging 81.8 points per game.
• The Bears met fellow Pac-12 opponent UCLA on Nov. 15, taking the Bruins to overtime before falling 106-101.
LAST TIME OUT
Cal fell to Saint Mary's, 74-63, in a crosstown clash• Marcus Lee led the Bears with a career-high 23 points, including a 10-for-14 mark from the floor.
• Nick Hamilton also poured in a career-best 16 points, going a perfect 7-for-7, including two three-pointers.
• The Golden Bear bench contributed 20 points.
• Cal's 63 points were a season low for the Bears.
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Individually, Cal student-athletes rank in the Top 50 for:• Blocked Shots Per Game -- Kingsley Okoroh (18th, 2.75) and Marcus Lee (33rd, 2.38)
• Double-Doubles -- Marcus Lee (42nd, 3)
• Free Throw Attempts -- Don Coleman (19th, 66)
• Free Throws Made -- Don Coleman (28th, 47)
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game -- Marcus Lee (16th, 3.75)
• Points Per Game -- Don Coleman (40th, 20.9)
• Total Blocks -- Kingsley Okoroh (14th, 22) and Marcus Lee (33rd, 19)
• Total Field Goal Attempts -- Don Coleman (22nd, 131)
• Total Points -- Don Coleman (32nd, 167)