After top-ranked Duke delivered California men's basketball its first loss of the season, the Golden Bears look to get back to their winning ways Friday against No. 22 Texas in the consolation game of the 2K Empire Classic benefitting Wounded Warrior Project. The Bears tip off against the Longhorns at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

This is the fourth and final game of Cal's Empire Classic preseason tournament slate following the Bears' 87-52 loss to No. 1 Duke on Thursday night. For the first time all season, no Cal players reached double figures in the loss, and Cal shot 36.5 percent as a team with a season-low 28 rebounds. However, the Bears saw increased contributions from several newcomers, with Lars Thiemann matching a personal-best 5 points and D.J. Thorpe adding a career-high 8 points in 12 minutes of action. Fellow freshman Joel Brown dished out a team-high 3 assists.

The Longhorns enter Friday's consolation game after am 82-66 loss to Georgetown in their Thursday semifinal. Texas' loss to the Hoyas is its lone loss this season.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: 
The consolation game of the Empire Classic airs live on ESPN2, with commentary from Jon Sciambi and Dan Dakich. Watch live on television or via watchESPN.com and the WatchESPN 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

2017 -- Cal last upset a top 25 team away from Haas Pavilion on Jan. 8, 2017, when the Bears topped No. 25 USC, 74-73, at the Galen Center.

8 -- D.J. Thorpe scored a career-high 8 points in the loss to Duke, shooting a perfect 4-4 from the field. His production increased significantly with 12 minutes of playing time after playing just 2 minutes previously.

2014 -- Cal and Texas last met in 2014 -- also at the Empire Classic tournament. The teams met in the championship game on Nov. 21, with Texas taking a 71-55 victory.

25 -- Cal's bench contributed nearly half of the Bears' points against No. 1 Duke -- 25 of 52. Thorpe led the effort, while Jacobi Gordon scored all 5 of his points after halftime. Andre Kelly also added 5 points.
 

SCOUTING THE LONGHORNS

• Series Record: The series is tied, 2-2
• Last Meeting: The two teams last met in the 2K Classic once again. Cal fell to Texas, 71-55, on Nov. 21, 2014.
• Texas' 2019-20 Record: 4-1
• Texas' Last Game: The Longhorns dropped a game to Georgetown, 82-66, in the semifinal of the Empire Classic. Matt Coleman III was the lone Longhorn to score in double figures, registering 22 points.
• At 16.0 points per game, Coleman is one of two players averaging double-figure scoring. Andrew Jones is averagin 11.8 ppg.
• Jericho Sims is Texas' leading rebounder at 6.4 boards per game.
• Besides Coleman and Jones, four Texas players are averaging 7 or more points per game -- Gerald Liddell (8.8), Courtney Ramey (8.4), Jase Febres (8.2) and Sims (7.8).
• Georgetown's 82 points were the most Texas has allowed an opponent to score this season. The program's previous high was 66 against Purdue. 
 

LAST TIME OUT

The Result: Cal fell to top-ranked Duke, 87-52, Thursday night in the Empire Classic semifinal at Madison Square Garden.
• For the first time all season, no Bear scored in double figures. The team's leading scorer, Matt Bradley, was held to 7 points.
• Kareem South and D.J. Thorpe led all scorers with 8 points apiece. Thorpe's 8 points marked a career-high.
• Jacobi Gordon scored all 5 of his points in the second half, and pulled down a season-best 4 rebounds.
• The Blue Devils held Cal to several season-lows, including fewest points in the first half (21), fewest rebounds (29) and most fouls (27).
 

NEXT UP

Cal returns to Berkeley to begin an eight-game Bay Area-based slate, starting with UC Davis on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. The game airs live on the Pac-12 Networks.