Cal vs. Utah

Saturday, Jan. 26 | 5 PM PT | Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.
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California men's basketball continues a three-game homestand by playing host to Utah on Saturday at Haas Pavilion. The action begins at 5 p.m. in Haas Pavilion. 

Please note: Due to a television schedule change, the game was moved from its original programming slot of 7 p.m. PT to 5 p.m. PT.

Saturday's game includes additional fanfare with two special in-game recognition ceremonies. The game is Cal's annual Pete Newell Game, where the Bears honor the legendary coach who led the program to an NCAA Championship in 1959. John Ricksen, a member of the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame and basketball and tennis star, will receive the Pete Newell Career Achievement Award. In addition, Cal will celebrate the 1959 championship team as members of the squad will be invited on court for a special ceremony.

California is looking for its first conference win since Feb. 3, 2018 (vs. Oregon State, 74-70). The Bears came back from an 18-point deficit against Colorado on Thursday in Haas, but couldn't complete the effort despite three players scoring in double figures.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION:  Saturday's game airs live on ESPNU, with play-by-play and color commentary provided by Eric Rothman and Adrian Branch. Watch on ESPNU, or online at www.watchESPN.com or the watchESPN app on your mobile phone. Todd McKim and Rich Cellini will have the action for the  California Golden Bears Sports Network on KGO 810 AM and via TuneIn. Live stats, broadcast info and more can be accessed via the Cal men's basketball schedule page. Fans can follow the Bears on social media via @CalMBball on Twitter and Instagram, and at Facebook.com/CalMBball.
 

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BY THE NUMBERS

9.5 -- The Bears are averaging 7.4 steals per game, and 9.5 steals in their last two outings. Against Washington, who leads the Pac-12 in steals, the Bears led the Huskies in takeaways, 12-7.

1 -- In Thursday's game against Colorado, the Bears committed a season-low 4 turnovers, marking their sixth game under 10 turnovers this season. Cal turned the ball over just once in the second half.

4 -- Four Golden Bears are averaging double-figure scoring in league play, led by Justice Sueing 14.9 points per game. Matt Bradley (11.1), Darius McNeill (10.9) and Paris Austin (10.6) are also double-figure contributors.

7:1 -- Paris Austin dished out 7 assists and committed only one turnover against Colorado. It was the fourth time this season he's tallied 7 or more assists.

3-8 -- After going just 2-8 from 3-point range in both games in Washington, Darius McNeill going back on track with a 3-8 performance against the Buffs. It was his eighth game of the season with 3 or more 3-pointers, and his third of Pac-12 play.
 

SCOUTING THE UTES

• Series Record: The series is tied at 14-14
• Last Meeting: Utah downed Cal, 77-43, in Salt Lake City on Feb. 10, 2018. Three Utes scored in double figures, while Darius McNeill was the lone Bear to score 10 points.
• Utah's 2018-19 Record: 10-8, 4-2
• Utah's Last Game: The Utes took a win over Stanford at Maples Pavilion, 70-66, Thursday night. Sedrick Barefield led with 18 points, and Donnie Tillman (11 points) and Parker Van Dyke (10) added double-digit point totals as well.
• Three Utes are scoring in double figures in Pac-12 play, led by Barefield's 16.4 points per game. Tillman is averaging 12.0, and Timmy Allen is scoring 11.8 ppg.
• Allen is averaging 7.2 rebounds in league play, second only to Jayce Johnson's 7.8 rebounds per game.
• Three of Utah's five Pac-12 games have been decided by single digits, including a three-point overtime loss at Arizona (84-81) and the Utes' four-point victory at Stanford.
• Utah's 38.0 3-point field goal percentage leads the Pac-12 and ranks 34th in the nation. The Utes are averaging 9.2 3-pointers per game.

SERIES NOTES
Record at Cal: 8-3
Last 10 meetings: 3-7
Most points, Cal: 95, 1953-54
Most points, Utah: 99, 1964-65
Largest margin, Cal: 36, 2011-12
Largest margin, Utah: 34, 2017-18
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, Utah

RECORDS AGAINST UTAH
Points: 26, Justin Cobbs, March 14, 2013
Rebounds: 14, Ivan Rabb, Feb. 2, 2017
14, Richard Solomon, March 5, 2014
FG: 10, Justin Cobbs, March 14, 2013
3P: 4, Jabari Bird, Feb. 2, 2017/March 9, 2017
4, Allen Crabbe, Jan. 24, 2013/Feb. 28, 2013
FT: 8, Jabari Bird, March 9, 2017
8, Ivan Rabb, March 2, 2017
8, Jaylen Brown, Jan. 27, 2016
8, Justin Cobbs, Feb. 28, 2013
 

LAST TIME OUT

• The Result: Cal climbed back from an 18-point deficit, but couldn't close it out against Colorado, 68-59
• Three Bears reached double figures -- Paris Austin (13 points), Justice Sueing (13) and Matt Bradley (12).
• Austin also tallied seven assists with only one turnover.
• Sueing matched a season-high four steals.
• Cal committed just four turnovers, a season-low. The Bears turned the ball over only once in the second half.
• After trailing by 18 points early in the second half (41-23), Cal came all the way back to take a 54-53 lead with 7:04 left in the second half.
 

RANKING ROUNDUP

As a team, Cal ranks Top 50 nationally in:
• Fewest Turnovers: 44th, 220
• Turnovers Per Game: 47th, 11.6
• Free-Throw Percentage: 49th, 74.5

Individually, Cal players rank in the Top 100 nationally in:
• Assists Per Game: Paris Austin (78th, 4.8)
• Free Throws Made: Justice Sueing (65th, 88)
• Free Throw Percentage: Justice Sueing (87th, 83.8)
 

RICKSEN EARNS NEWELL AWARD

John Ricksen, a member of the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame who starred on the basketball and tennis courts for the Golden Bears before going on to a long law career, was named this year's recipient of the Pete Newell Career Achievement Award on Jan. 10. The Career Achievement Award is presented to a Cal men's basketball alumnus who has distinguished himself in his career accomplishments, upholding the highest ideals of Coach Newell and the University of California. In basketball, John earned letters in 1951, '52 and '53, earning first-team PCC All-Southern Division honors as a senior co-captain when Cal finished 15-10 overall and won the Southern Division title.
 

NEXT UP

Bay Area rival Stanford comes to Berkeley next Sunday, Feb. 3, for a matinee matchup beginning at 1 p.m., live on ESPNU.