California Golden Bears Athletics
Sunday, December 29
Berkeley, CA
3:00 PM
California
vs
Harvard
Cal Closes Non-Conference Campaign Against Crimson
12/27/2019 2:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Bears Return To Haas For Their Non-Conference Finale Sunday
California men's basketball looks to close its non-conference campaign with a winning record this Sunday when the Golden Bears host the Harvard Crimson at home in Haas Pavilion. Action tips off from Pete Newell Court at 3 p.m. and live on the Pac-12 Networks.
Sunday's men's basketball game is the first in another Haas Hoops doubleheader, with California women's basketball set to host Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. following the men's contest.
The Bears enter their non-conference finale at 6-6 after falling to Boston College at the Chase Center prior to the holiday break. With a victory over the Crimson, the Bears would clinch their first winning record in non-conference action since 2016-17. Matt Bradley continues to pace the Bears with 17.7 points per game, followed by Kareem South's 11.3 points. Cal is shooting 51.7 percent from the floor at home, including 46.7 percent from 3-point range.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION:
Bill Walton and Ted Robinson have the call for Sunday's action against Harvard, live on Pac-12 Networks. Fans can also tune in to the broadcast on 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.
3-1 -- Cal is 3-1 when outrebounding opponents by a +5 margin, with their lone loss coming to Boston College, who the Bears outrebounded 37-29. Meanwhile, Cal is 1-3 when posting a -5 rebounding margin.
5 -- Matt Bradley's 21-point outing against BC was his fifth 20-point game of the season. The Cal record for 20-point games in a year is held by Lamond Murray, who contributed 20+ points 23 times in 1994.
11 -- Eleven of Cal's 12 opponents this season have shot less than 50 percent from the floor, with the Bears holding opponents to 40.6 percent shooting at home in Haas Pavilion.
• Bradley ranks among the top 100 players in the nation in a number of offensive categories, including points per game (78th, 17.7), total points (83rd, 212), free throws made (26th, 59), free throw percentage (32nd, 89.4) and free throw attempts (67th, 66).
• Cal is 6-1 at home in Haas Pavilion, with the lone loss coming to Saint Mary's, 89-77, on Dec. 14.
• Four Golden Bears have combined for a total of eight 20-point games this season: Matt Bradley (5 games), Grant Anticevich (1), Andre Kelly (1) and Kareem South (1).
• Cal's 45.9 shooting percentage ranks 90th in the country, and its 38.8 3-point shooting percentage is 26th nationally.
• Last Meeting: California and Harvard met exactly seven years ago to date, with the Crimson taking a 67-62 win over the Golden Bears on Dec. 29, 2012 in Haas Pavilion.
• Harvard's 2019-20 Record: 8-4
• Harvard's Last Game: The Crimson claimed a win at Howard, 60-55, on Dec. 22. Chris Lewis had 15 points for Harvard, and Mason Forbes added 13.
• Three Crimson players are averaging double figures: Bryce Aiken (16.7 ppg), Noah Kirkwood (11.4) and Lewis (10.7).
• Leading scorer Aiken has only played in 7 of Harvard's 12 games this season, and missed the Crimson's previous game at Howard.
• Lewis is the team's leading rebounder with 6.5 rpg, followed by Robert Baker with 5.5.
• Harvard ranks 25th in the nation in blocks (64) and 28th nationally in blocked shots per game (5.3), led by Baker's 1.83 blocks per game.
• The Crimson have won each of their last three games, including back-to-back road wins at Howard and George Washington.
• Matt Bradley led all scorers with 21 points, plus a season-best 9 rebounds.
• Lars Thiemann logged career-high point (8) and rebound (9) totals.
• Kareem South set season-high rebound (6) and steal (3) totals.
• The Bears outrebounded the Eagles, 37-29.
• 14 of Cal's first 25 points came off Boston College turnovers. For the game, the Bears outscored BC, 22-13, in points off turnovers.
Sunday's men's basketball game is the first in another Haas Hoops doubleheader, with California women's basketball set to host Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. following the men's contest.
The Bears enter their non-conference finale at 6-6 after falling to Boston College at the Chase Center prior to the holiday break. With a victory over the Crimson, the Bears would clinch their first winning record in non-conference action since 2016-17. Matt Bradley continues to pace the Bears with 17.7 points per game, followed by Kareem South's 11.3 points. Cal is shooting 51.7 percent from the floor at home, including 46.7 percent from 3-point range.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION:
Bill Walton and Ted Robinson have the call for Sunday's action against Harvard, live on Pac-12 Networks. Fans can also tune in to the broadcast on 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.
BY THE NUMBERS
8 & 9 -- Freshman Lars Thiemann enjoyed a career outing against Boston College, tying his personal-best point total (8) while pulling down a career-high 9 rebounds.3-1 -- Cal is 3-1 when outrebounding opponents by a +5 margin, with their lone loss coming to Boston College, who the Bears outrebounded 37-29. Meanwhile, Cal is 1-3 when posting a -5 rebounding margin.
5 -- Matt Bradley's 21-point outing against BC was his fifth 20-point game of the season. The Cal record for 20-point games in a year is held by Lamond Murray, who contributed 20+ points 23 times in 1994.
11 -- Eleven of Cal's 12 opponents this season have shot less than 50 percent from the floor, with the Bears holding opponents to 40.6 percent shooting at home in Haas Pavilion.
NEWS & NOTES
• Matt Bradley has reached double figures in all but one game this season (vs. Duke).• Bradley ranks among the top 100 players in the nation in a number of offensive categories, including points per game (78th, 17.7), total points (83rd, 212), free throws made (26th, 59), free throw percentage (32nd, 89.4) and free throw attempts (67th, 66).
• Cal is 6-1 at home in Haas Pavilion, with the lone loss coming to Saint Mary's, 89-77, on Dec. 14.
• Four Golden Bears have combined for a total of eight 20-point games this season: Matt Bradley (5 games), Grant Anticevich (1), Andre Kelly (1) and Kareem South (1).
• Cal's 45.9 shooting percentage ranks 90th in the country, and its 38.8 3-point shooting percentage is 26th nationally.
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON
• Series Record: Cal leads, 2-1• Last Meeting: California and Harvard met exactly seven years ago to date, with the Crimson taking a 67-62 win over the Golden Bears on Dec. 29, 2012 in Haas Pavilion.
• Harvard's 2019-20 Record: 8-4
• Harvard's Last Game: The Crimson claimed a win at Howard, 60-55, on Dec. 22. Chris Lewis had 15 points for Harvard, and Mason Forbes added 13.
• Three Crimson players are averaging double figures: Bryce Aiken (16.7 ppg), Noah Kirkwood (11.4) and Lewis (10.7).
• Leading scorer Aiken has only played in 7 of Harvard's 12 games this season, and missed the Crimson's previous game at Howard.
• Lewis is the team's leading rebounder with 6.5 rpg, followed by Robert Baker with 5.5.
• Harvard ranks 25th in the nation in blocks (64) and 28th nationally in blocked shots per game (5.3), led by Baker's 1.83 blocks per game.
• The Crimson have won each of their last three games, including back-to-back road wins at Howard and George Washington.
LAST TIME OUT
The Result: Boston College edged Cal, 64-60, at the Al Attles Classic at the Chase Center on Saturday, Dec. 21• Matt Bradley led all scorers with 21 points, plus a season-best 9 rebounds.
• Lars Thiemann logged career-high point (8) and rebound (9) totals.
• Kareem South set season-high rebound (6) and steal (3) totals.
• The Bears outrebounded the Eagles, 37-29.
• 14 of Cal's first 25 points came off Boston College turnovers. For the game, the Bears outscored BC, 22-13, in points off turnovers.
NEXT UP
California opens conference play at Stanford on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2/U. The Bears have won back-to-back games at Maples Pavilion.
Players Mentioned
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