California welcomes fellow Golden State school California Baptist Friday night as the Golden Bears begin play in the 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Friday's regional round game tips off at 7 p.m. from Pete Newell Court, and airs live on the Pac-12 Networks.

This is the first of four games Cal will play as part of the Empire Classic, with the Bears also set to host Prairie View A&M at home before jetting to New York City  next week to take on a field that includes Duke, Texas and Georgetown.

The Bears are set for their second game this week after pulling out an overtime victory against UNLV, 79-75, Tuesday night. Matt Bradley turned in his second consecutive 20+ point game with 24 points and now leads a group of four Bears averaging in double figures through the first two contests. Kareem South (14.0), Andre Kelly (12.5) and Paris Austin (12.0) have all continued hot starts, while freshman Joel Brown emerged with a 12-point performance against the Runnin' Rebels.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: 
Mike Montgomery and Guy Haberman have the call for Friday's contest, live on Pac-12 Networks. Fans can also tune in at www.Pac-12.com/live or on the Pac-12 Now app. Rich Cellini and Todd McKim will deliver play-by-play and analysis for the California Golden Bears Sports Network on KGO 810 AM and via TuneIn. Live stats, broadcast info and links and more for each of Cal's games this season can be accessed via the Cal men's basketball schedule page on CalBears.com. 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

54.1 -- Through two games, the Bears are shooting 54.1 percent through two games this season -- a mark that ranks ninth in the country. Cal's shooting efficiency of 1.260 is 10th in the country.

2-0 -- Cal is 2-0 despite trailing at halftime of both games this season. After allowing UNLV to shoot 59.3 percent in the first half, Cal clamped down to hold the Rebels to 39.3 percent shooting in the second.

2015-16 -- The last time Cal started the season with three consecutive wins was 2015-16, when the Bears opened 4-0 before dropping back-to-back games.

24.0 -- Matt Bradley is averaging a team-high 24.0 points after recording 20+ points in back-to-back games, the best stretch of his career thus far. Bradley scored 25 in the opener against Pepperdine.
 

SCOUTING THE LANCERS

• Series Record: Have Not Met
• Last Meeting: Have Not Met
• CBU's 2019-20 Record: 2-1
• CBU's Last Game: The Lancers fell to fellow Empire Classic team Texas, 67-54, in regional round action in Austin. Milan Acquaah led with 17 points and 3 assists. Ferron Flavors Jr. added 14 points and 8 rebounds.
• Four Lancers are averaging double-figure scoring: Acquaah (18.3), Flavors Jr. (17.7), Brandon Boyd (11.0) and Dejon Davis (10.7). 
• Davis is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 9.7 boards per game. He started the first two games with back-to-back double-doubles.
• Alongside the Lancers' top four scorers, Glenn Morison has started all three games.
• Acquaah was named the Top WAC Player and first-team All-WAC preseason selection by several preseason publications.
• CBU is in its second year of a four-year transition to NCAA Division I status.
 

LAST TIME OUT

The Result: Cal fought for a 79-75 win in overtime to beat UNLV.
• Cal trailed 65-56 with 5:58 left in regulation before tying the game at 67-67 at the end of regulation and eventually making a 16-2 run with a 72-67 lead with 2:37 left in overtime.
• Matt Bradley recorded 23 points, his second 20+ point game in a row for the first time in his career.
• Joel Brown scored 9 of his 12 points after halftime.
• Kareem South (14) and Paris Austin (10) also reached double figures.
 

BEARS INK DUO IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD

Mark Fox's first full recruiting class is starting to take shape after the signing of two wing players Wednesday. The Bears added Monty Bowser and Jalen Celestine to their roster.
• Oakland's own Bowser is a product of Bishop O'Dowd High School, where current Bear Paris Austin and former standout Ivan Rabb also attended. He was an honorable mention selection for both the SF Chronicle All-Metro and All-Bay Area News Group squads.
• Celestine averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists playing on the 2019 Nike EYBL circuit. He attends Long Island Lutheran.
 

NEXT UP

Cal hosts one more 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project regional round game with Prairie View A&M headed to Berkeley on Monday, Nov. 18. Tipoff is 7 PM on Pac-12 Networks.