Cal at San Diego State
California heads south looking to snap a two-game losing skid in its first true non-conference road game since 2015. The Golden Bears enter Aztec territory on Saturday, battling it out against San Diego State in Viejas Arena beginning at 2 p.m. The action airs live on CBS Sports Network and on KGO 810 AM.
The Bears dropped their last two home games to Saint Mary's and Central Arkansas and look to get back on track with their first win over the Aztecs in five meetings between the two programs. Cal is winless against San Diego State since a 2007-08 squad featuring starters Ryan Anderson, Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle defeated the Aztecs 77-69 on Nov. 24. Cal's last win against San Diego State on the road came as a 60-57 victory in the 2004-05 season.
While the Bears have yet to play a true road game this season, Cal has three players averaging in double figures away from Haas Pavilion, led by
Don Coleman's 22.3 point average.
Justice Sueing averaged 18.0 points and Dairus McNeill averaged 14.7 points in three games at the neutral-site Maui Invitational. The trio are among the four Bears scoring in double figures in all nine games this season, along with 12.3 points from
Marcus Lee. The senior forward is one half of Cal's frontcourt duo that ranks among the nation's best shot blockers, as California is the only program in the country with two players ranked inside the top 25 in total blocks. Lee has 23 blocks, and fellow big man
Kingsley Okoroh has 25, with Cal ranking in the nation's top 10 in both total blocks (5th, 60) and blocks per game (7th, 6.7) as a team.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Tune in to CBS Sports Network to follow all the action from Saturday's game. Rich Waltz will have the play-by-play, with Steve Lappas providing color commentary and Amanda Balionis on the sideline. The California Golden Bears Sports Network will offer radio 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 AZTECS
Last Meeting: The Bears fell to the Aztecs, 77-65, on Nov. 21, 2016 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif.
Series Record: San Diego State leads, 7-4
San Diego State's 2017-18 Record: 7-2
San Diego State's Last Game: The Aztecs topped Bradley, 75-52, at home.
• Four Aztecs are scoring in the double figures -- Devin Watson (14.7), Trey Kell (13.6), Malik Pope (11.8) and Matt Mitchell (10.7).
• Pope leads with 62 rebounds, averaging 6.9 per game.
• Former Golden Bear
Kameron Rooks has started all nine games at center for the Aztecs and is averaging 4.0 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 53.3 percent from the field.
• The Aztecs currently own a four-game winning streak over the Bears.
• San Diego State is outscoring opponents 80.8-64.3 through nine games this season.
• The Aztecs are 0-2 against Pac-12 schools this season, falling to Arizona State 90-68 and Washington State 93-86.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears dropped a second consecutive home game, falling to Central Arkansas 96-69
• Four Bears scored in double figures --
Don Coleman (20 points),
Marcus Lee (11),
Darius McNeill (10) and
Juhwan Harris-Dyson (10).
• Harris-Dyson fell one board shy of his first career double-double, matching a career-high 10 points and setting a personal best 9 rebounds.
• Lee matched his season-high four-block total.
• McNeill extended his three-pointer streak to nine games this season, and logged his fifth game with multiple triples after going 2-for-5 from downtown.
• As a team, Cal logged eight blocks for the Bears' sixth-straight game with at least five blocks.
• Central Arkansas scored 35 points off Cal's 21 turnovers.
• Cal shot 82.8 percent (24-29) from the free throw line, with Coleman going 12-13.Â
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 48 blocks so far this season.
The Bears rank among the Top 10 nationally for total blocks (5th, 60) and blocked shots per game (7th, 6.7 per game). Okoroh and Lee are both in the top 30 individually for total blocks and blocked shots per game. Okoroh checks in at 16th with 25 total blocks, and 19th with 2.78 per game. Lee is 22nd with 23 total blocks fand 26th with an average of 2.56 per game.
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Individually, Cal student-athletes rank in the Top 50 for:
• Blocked Shots Per Game --
Kingsley Okoroh (19th, 2.78) and
Marcus Lee (26th, 2.56)
• Double-Doubles --
Marcus Lee (50th, 3)
• Free Throw Attempts --
Don Coleman (7th, 79)
• Free Throws Made --
Don Coleman (11th, 59)
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game --
Marcus Lee (20th, 3.67)
• Points Per Game --
Don Coleman (35th, 20.8)
• Total Blocks --
Kingsley Okoroh (16th, 25) and
Marcus Lee (22nd, 23)
• Total Field Goal Attempts --
Don Coleman (17th, 145)
• Total Points --
Don Coleman (29th, 187)
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 11.6 points apiece.
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 nine-game streak, including six 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 five games this season. His output comes after missing most of the preseason due to a stress fracture.
Juhwan Harris-Dyson missed the first two games due to illness, but has seen time in seven games, including starts in the last three. Harris-Dyson is averaging 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in his trio of starts. The rookie nearly logged his first career double-double against Central Arkansas, matching a career-high 10 points and setting a personal best 9 rebounds.Â
NEXT UP
The Golden Bears return to Berkeley for their penultimate non-conference home game, set for Saturday, Dec. 16 against Cal State Fullerton. Saturday's game is a doubleheader with Cal women's basketball taking on BYU at 5 p.m. Both teams will be celebrating "Star Wars Day," with exclusive clips and in-game promos throughout both contests.
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