California men's basketball looks to close out a four-game season-opening homestand with a perfect record Monday night when the Golden Bears face off against Prairie View A&M as part of the 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Monday's contest begins at 7 p.m. in Haas Pavilion and airs live on the Pac-12 Networks.

This is the second of four games Cal will play as part of the Empire Classic, and the last regional game in the tournament. The Bears face Duke on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, and either Texas or Georgetown on Friday in the Empire Classic championship rounds.

Cal enters Monday night's contest with the program's strongest start since 2015-16 and an offense coming alive behind 55.1 percent shooting from the floor. Matt Bradley (21.3 ppg) leads five Bears scoring in double figures, and the team is averaging 35.0 rebounds and 12.7 assists. Newcomer Kareem South has scored in double figures in each of Cal's three games thus far.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: 
Monday's game airs live on the Pac-12 Networks, with Barry Tompkins and Dan Belluomini on the call. 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

9 -- Cal's 38 assists through three games this season have come from nine different players. Three Bears have seven or more assists --- Matt Bradley (8), Grant Anticevich (7) and Paris Austin (7).

50.0+ -- Cal has shot 50 percent or better in each of its three games this season. The Bears opened the year shooting 57.4 percent vs. Pepperdine, their highest percentage since 2015.

4-0 -- A win over Prairie View A&M would give Cal a perfect 4-0 record -- the Bears' best start since 2015-16. The Bears opened the year 4-0 before dropping back-to-back games at the Las Vegas Invitational.

5-5 -- Grant Anticevich's 5-for-5 mark for a perfect 100.0 3-point field goal percentage tied a Cal single-game record. Amit Tamir (2003) and Eric Vierneisel (2008) also went 5-for-5. to-back games.
 

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

• Series Record: Cal leads, 2-0
• Last Meeting: The Bears topped the Panthers, 85-53, on Dec. 22, 2012.
• PVAM's 2019-20 Record: 1-3
• PVAM's Last Game: Prairie View fell to Texas, 70-56, in Austin, Texas, despite double-figure performances from Lenell Henry  (12 points) and Chancellor Ellis (11).
• Ellis is the team's leading scorer at 14.8 points per game, and the lone Panther to average double figures this season.
• Gerard Andrus is averaging 9.8 ppg.
• Henry is the team's leading rebounder with 5.8 rebounds per game.
• Dajaun Madden owns a team-high 16 assists.
•The Panthers opened the season with a 100-62 win over Jarvis Christian but have dropped three-straight since, including games to UCF and Texas.
 

LAST TIME OUT

The Result: Cal improved to a perfect 3-0 with a 20-point win over California Baptist, 82-62.
• Grant Anticevich scored a career-high 23 points. Anticevich tied the Cal record for best 3-point shooting percentage in a game, going 5-for-5 from behind the arc. 
• Matt Bradley reached double figures for the third time this season, finishing with 16 points. He's now averaging 21.3 ppg.
• With the score tied at 42-42 with 17:59 left in the second half, Cal went on a 26-6 run to open a 68-48 lead with 9:36 to go.
• D.J. Thorpe made his Cal debut with 2:35 left in the game.
 

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

The Bears travel to the Big Apple for their last remaining games in the 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Cal opens the tournament against perennial powerhouse Duke at 6 p.m. PT in Madison Square Garden. The game also airs live on ESPN2.