BERKELEY - Despite an inspired comeback effort in the second half, Cal's season came to a close on Tuesday night with a loss to CSU Bakersfield, 73-66, in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. Trailing by as many as 25 points in the first half, the Golden Bears outscored the Roadrunners, 47-29, in the second half and cut the deficit to six points on a Don Coleman lay-in with 0:08 left to play. However, the Roadrunners held on to secure the victory, handing the Bears just their fourth home loss of the season.

Coleman led the Bears with a career-high 26 points while Grant Mullins added 10 points and Cole Welle chipped in a career-best seven rebounds. Kingsley Okoroh became Cal's single-season blocked shots leader with one block in the game to bring his 2016-17 total to 74. 

The Golden Bears end the season with an overall record of 21-13, going 10-8 in conference play and reaching the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. 

The Bears were without two all-conference performers on Tuesday night, as senior Jabari Bird was unable to play due to a concussion suffered in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinal and sophomore forward Ivan Rabb was out with a foot injury.

Bakersfield opened on an 8-0 tear to start the game, and the lead grew from there, as the Runners hit eight three-pointers in the first half and shot 50.0 percent (16-32) from the floor. Meanwhile, the Bears made just four field goals, going 4-of-24 (16.7 percent).

At halftime, CSUB led 44-19.

Cal's 47 second-half points were just one point shy of the Bears' season-high in a half. Cal shot a much-improved 46.7 percent (14-30) and added five treys, including two from Roger Moute a Bidias. Coleman had 23 of his 26 points in the final 20 minutes, going 6-11 from the floor and 10-14 at the charity stripe. Welle pulled down all seven boards in the second half and added six points.

Moute a Bidias finished with eight points, and Stephen Domingo, who made two triples on the evening, finished with six points.