Cal (19-9, 10-6 Pac-12) at Utah (18-10, 9-7 Pac-12)

Thursday, March 2 | 8 PM PT/9 PM MT | Jon M. Huntsman Center | Salt Lake City, Utah

ESPNU | GOLDEN BEAR SPORTS NETWORK (KGO 810 AM) | LIVE STATS

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With just one road series standing between California men's basketball and the postseason, the Golden Bears look to lock up fourth place in the Pac-12 and a first round bye at the Pac-12 Tournament this Thursday against Utah. The Bears open their final road trip of the regular season at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, where they'll face the Utes at 8 p.m. PT/9 p.m. MT, live on ESPNU and KGO 810 AM.

California (19-9, 10-6 Pac-12) is one game ahead of Utah (18-10, 9-7 Pac-12) in the league standings, with a win assuring the Bears of their first-round bye status at next week's Pac-12 Tournament. The Bears were originally picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 preseason media poll and currently stand in sole possession of fourth. With Utah's loss to Oregon State on Feb. 19, Cal also owns the tiebreaker over the fifth-place Utes and defeated sixth-place USC (21-8, 8-8 Pac-12) in the teams' lone meeting this season.

The Bears hit the road with four players averaging double-figure scoring totals in true road games this season, led by Jabari Bird's 14.1 points per game. Ivan Rabb (12.9 ppg), Grant Mullins (12.7) and Charlie Moore (10.4) are also carrying the Bears, with Rabb leading the way on the boards with 9.9 rebounds per game.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Roy Philpott and Brad Daugherty have the call of Thursday's action at Utah live on ESPNU. The California Golden Bears Sports Network will broadcast live on the airwaves with commentary from Todd McKim and Jay John on KGO 810 AM. Follow the Bears on social media for a behind-the-scenes look at Facebook.com/CalMensBball and on Twitter and Instagram @CalMensBball.

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SCOUTING THE UTES

Last Meeting: The Bears and Utes went into double overtime in Berkeley before Jabari Bird dropped in the game-winning alley oop.
Series Record: California leads, 15-13
Utah's 2016-17 Record: 18-10, 9-7 Pac-12
Utah's Last Game: Edged Colorado, 86-81, in Boulder
• Jabari Bird scored a career-high 26 points in the last meeting with the Utes, including 10 points in the second overtime period.
• Charlie Moore scored 17 and Ivan Rabb had 12 points and 14 rebounds against Utah earlier this month.
• Kyle Kuzma is averaging a double-double with 16.2 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. Kuzma has 17.2 ppg and 9.8 rpg in Pac-12 play.
• Devon Daniels was suspended indefinitely last week. Daniels was averaging 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in league action prior to his suspension.
• David Collette (13.9 points) and Lorenzo Bonam (11.4 points) are also scoring in the double figures in conference play.
• The Runnin' Utes have scored 80 or more points in eight Pac-12 games. Utah is averaging 82.8 points at home.

CAL RECORDS AGAINST UTAH
Points: 26, Jabari Bird, Feb. 2, 2017
26, Justin Cobbs, March 14, 2013
Rebounds: 14, Ivan Rabb, Feb. 2, 2017
14, Richard Solomon, March 5, 2014
FG: 11, Jabari Bird, Feb. 2, 2017
3P: 4, Jabari Bird, Feb. 2, 2017
4, Allen Crabbe, Jan. 24, 2013/ Feb. 28, 2013
FT: 8, Jaylen Brown, Jan. 27, 2016
8, Justin Cobbs, Feb. 28, 2013

SERIES NOTES
Last 10 meetings: 6-4
Most points, Cal: 95, 1953-54
Most points, Utah: 99, 1964-65
Largest margin, Cal: 36, 2011-12
Largest margin, Utah: 25, 1964-65
Longest Cal win streak: 5, 2008-09 to 2012-13
Longest Utah win streak: 3, 1939-40 to 1945-46;
2012-13 to 2014-15
Current Streak: 1, Cal

LAST TIME OUT

California romped Oregon State, 76-46, on Senior Night in Haas Pavilion.
• Cal held an opponent to under 50 points for the second time in Pac-12 play.
• Sam Singer tied a season-high 14 points, shooting a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor.
• Ivan Rabb led the Bears with 16 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double.
• Charlie Moore added 11 points and a game-high five assists.
• The Bears outrebounded Oregon State 42-22.
• Cal outscored Oregon State 46-16 in the paint. 

BEARS PICKED FOURTH IN PRESEASON POLL

The Golden Bears were projected to finish fourth in the Pac-12 in 2016-17, according to a preseason vote by media who regularly cover the conference. The Bears are expected to finish behind early favorite Oregon, followed by second-place Arizona and third-place UCLA. Colorado, Washington, USC, Utah, Oregon State, Stanford, Arizona State and Washington State follow the Bears, respectively. 

BEARS NEARING 20 WINS

A win over Utah would give California its 20th victory of the season, marking the second consecutive year that Cuonzo Martin's Golden Bears have posted 20 wins in the regular season. It would be the first time that back-to-back Cal squads reached 20 wins in the regular season since former head coach Mike Montgomery's squads did it in 2011-12 and 2012-13. Cal's 2015-16 team went 22-9 in the regular season, and five Cal teams have reached the 20-win mark in the regular season in the last decade.

HOME SWEET HAAS

For the second consecutive season, Cal proved that Haas Pavilion was among one of the nation's toughest places to play. The Bears surrendered just 59.9 points per game, a number which ranks 17th in Division I action and fourth among major conference teams (Virginia - 50.6 ppg, Wisconsin - 56.1 ppg, Baylor - 58.7 ppg). The Bears also owned a +12.1 scoring margin while turning in a +7.4 rebounding margin and 5.2 blocks per game. Cal averaged 72.0 points at home, with three Cal players contributing 13 points or more on Pete Newell Court: Ivan Rabb (16.1), Jabari Bird (14.6) and Charlie Moore (13.7). At home in 2015-16, which saw the Bears go a perfect 18-0 in Haas Pavilion, Cal surrendered 62.8 ppg.

MORE, MORE, MOORE

One of the most successful signees of the Cuonzo Martin era to date, Charlie Moore broke into several categories among Cal's freshman records with his performance against Oregon State on Feb. 24. He currently ranks:

Total Points
1. Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- 590
2. Ryan Anderson -- 539
3. Jaylen Brown -- 498
...
8. Lamond Murray (1992) -- 387
9. Jason Kidd (1993) -- 378
10. Charlie Moore -- 363

Free Throws Made
1. Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- 170
2. Jaylen Brown -- 142
3. Brian Hendrick -- 128
...
8. Tremaine Fowlkes (1995) -- 94
T9. Charlie Moore -- 88 
T9. Jason Kidd (1993) -- 88 

Assists
1. Jason Kidd -- 222
2. Jelani Gardner -- 175
3. K.J. Roberts -- 127
4. Shantay Legans -- 121
T5. Charlie Moore -- 108 
T5. Ayinde Ubaka -- 108

Moore is also on the cusp of breaking into several more categories among the Bears'  freshman records:

Field Goals Made
1. Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- 206
2. Ryan Anderson -- 189
3. Brian Hendrick -- 175
...
10. Gene Ransom -- 136
Charlie Moore -- 118

Three-Point Field Goals Made
1. Allen Crabbe -- 62
2. Ryan Drew -- 60
3. Ryan Anderson -- 58
4. Shantay Legans -- 47
5. Richard Midgley -- 44
Charlie Moore -- 39

Steals
1. Jason Kidd -- 110
2. Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- 52
3. Shantay Legans -- 51
T4. Butch Hays -- 42
T4. Michael Chavez -- 42
Charlie Moore -- 32

LONG RANGER

Jabari Bird's perimeter shooting is among the best in program history. With five three-pointers at No. 11 Oregon, the senior moved into the top 10 in program history for three-point field goals made, and ranks top 10 in three-pointer attempts. Bird hit at least one three-pointer in a career-long 17 consecutive games from Dec. 17, 2016 to Feb. 22, 2017. Bird is fourth in the Pac-12 in three-pointers made this season with 57, including 43 in Pac-12 play. In the record books, he checks in at:

Cal Career Three-Point Field Goals Made
1. Jerome Randle (2007-10) -- 252
2. Ryan Drew (1988-91) -- 214
3. Allen Crabbe (2011-13) -- 209
4. Jordan Mathews (2014-16) -- 201
5. Richard Midgley (2003-06) -- 183
6. Jabari Bird (2013-present) -- 179 
7. Patrick Christopher (2007-10) -- 164

Cal Career Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
1. Jerome Randle (2007-10) -- 622
2. Ryan Drew (1988-91) -- 560
3. Allen Crabbe (2011-13) -- 547
4. Jabari Bird (2013-present) -- 485
5. Richard Midgley (2003-06) -- 483

Bird is nearing Cal's single-season top 10 for three-pointers made.

Cal Single-Season Three-Point Field Goals Made
1. Jerome Randle (2010) --  92
2. Jordan Mathews (2016) -- 89
3. Allen Crabbe (2012) -- 83
...
10. Allen Crabbe (2011) -- 62
**Jabari Bird, Grant Mullins -- 57

MULLINS IT OVER

Graduate transfer Grant Mullins is working his way up the Cal single-season records for his fiery play from three-point land. Mullins connected on at least two 3-pointers in 11 consecutive games from Jan. 12 to Feb. 22, and has recorded at least one trey in 16 consecutive games. 

Mullins is shooting 42.9 percent (57-133) from downtown this season, a mark that ranks among the Pac-12's leaders. Mullins is fourth for three-point field goal percentage and eighth  for three-point field goals made through all games. He ranks fourth in three-pointers made in Pac-12 games with 41, and 12th with a 43.6 percent three-point field goal percentange. 

Cal Single-Season Three-Point Field Goals Made
1. Jerome Randle (2010) --  92
2. Jordan Mathews (2016) -- 89
3. Allen Crabbe (2012) -- 83
...
10. Allen Crabbe (2011) -- 62
**Jabari Bird, Grant Mullins -- 57

PARTY LIKE A BLOCK STAR

Kingsley Okoroh is climbing up the Cal career record charts for his prowess in protecting the rim. Okoroh has moved into sole possession of No. 4 all-time with 123 career blocks. With 62 blocks this season, Okoroh surpassed his previous single-season high of 33 blocks across 34 games in 2015-16.

Cal Career Blocked Shots Leaders
1. David Kravish (2012-15) -- 226
2. Michael Stewart (1994-97) -- 207
3. DeVon Hardin (2005-08) -- 132
4. Kingsley Okoroh (2014-present) -- 123 
5. Solomon Hughes (1999-02) -- 122

Cal Single-Season Blocked Shots Leaders
1. David Kravish (2014) -- 73
2. David Kravish (2013) -- 63
3. Kingsley Okoroh (2017) --  62
4. Michael Stewart (1994) --  59

DOUBLE-DOUBLE STANDARDS

With 11 double-doubles in 16 games of Pac-12 play, double-double point and rebound totals are making frequent appearances in Ivan Rabb's statline. Among active Pac-12 players, Rabb is second in the conference in career double-doubles with 27, behind Washington State senior Josh Hawkinson. With his 27 double-doubles, Rabb has eclipsed Ryan Anderson (24) for career double-doubles among all Golden Bears in the last 20 seasons. He trails Sean Lampley (1st, 30) and Leon Powe (2nd, 29). 

BEARS BUILD ON DEFENSIVE PROWESS

With defense as a staple of head coach Cuonzo Martin's program, California has once again emerged as a force on the floor, where the Bears rank among the nation's elite. Cal is:
• 10th for rebound margin (7.9)
• 12th for field goal percentage defense (39.2 percent)
• 12th for scoring defense (62.3 ppg)
• 19th in defensive rebounds per game (28.00)
• 19th for total rebounds per game (39.71)

RABBID PLAY

Ivan Rabb is averaging 14.6 points and 10.7 rebounds with 15 double-doubles this season, including 11 in Pac-12 play. He ranks in the top 30 in the country in rebounds per game (10th, 10.7), defensive rebounds per game (14th, 7.50), double-doubles (17th, 15) and total rebounds (29th, 277).

Rabb, who broke the Cal freshman rebounding record last season, has an 11.7 rebounding average in Pac-12 play. Rabb leads the conference in rebounding and and ranks second in both defensive rebounds per game (7.5) and offensive rebounds per game (3.2). In five of the 16 Pac-12 games this season, Rabb has pulled down 14 or more boards.

Rabb made his return to the Cal lineup for the first time this season against San Diego State, where he came off the bench and logged a team-high 30 minutes of action. Though Rabb had just three points in the first half on a 3-5 performance at the charity stripe, he finished the game only two points shy of his career-high total with 19 points. After returning from injury, Rabb posted a career-long four-game double-double streak. He has since matched that streak with four consecutive double-doubles from Jan. 29 to Feb. 8. Rabb started Pac-12 play with a string of three double-doubles -- all three coming with 15 or more rebounds -- including a career-best 20 boards at No. 4 UCLA. He became the first Golden Bear with 20+ boards since Leon Powe in March 2006. 

NEXT UP

Cal heads to Boulder to close out regular-season play at Colorado on Saturday at 11 a.m., live on the Pac-12 Network.