Bears Travel To Tucson For Test At Arizona

Bears Travel To Tucson For Test At Arizona

Cal Looks To Take Series Split Against Wildcats

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Cal at. Arizona

Thursday, Feb. 21 | 6 PM PT | McKale Memorial Center | Tucson, Ariz.
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California men's basketball is back on the road this week for its final out-of-state trip of the regular season, starting at Arizona on Thursday. The Golden Bears and the Wildcats tip off from the McKale Memorial Center at 6 p.m. PT, live on FS1.

The Bears look to capitalize against a skidding Arizona squad and take their first win in Tucson since the 2012-13 season. The Wildcats have dropped seven consecutive games. Additionally, Cal is seeking its first Pac-12 win since a Feb. 3, 2018 victory over Oregon State (74-70) in Haas Pavilion, and its first Pac-12 road win since a Dec. 30, 2017 victory against Stanford in Maples Pavilion.

Cal heads to Tucson with four Bears averaging double-figure scoring in the last five games, led by Justice Sueing's 17.6 points and 5.4 rebounds. Connor Vanover has emerged to average 12.4 points and 5.2 rebounds, plus a team-high eight blocks. Darius McNeill continues his hot shooting from beyond the arc with 15 consecutive games with at least on 3-pointer, and he's averaging 11.2 points with 12 3-pointers in the last five games. Matt Bradley is coming off a 14-point outing against USC and is averaging 10.0 ppg in that span.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Joe Davis and Steve Lavin will cover play-by-play and analysis on FS1. Fans can also follow at www.FoxSportsGo.com and the Fox Sports Go app. Todd McKim and Rich Cellini 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.
 

BY THE NUMBERS


27 -- Justice Sueing scored a career-high 27 points in Cal's last meeting with Arizona. He went 8-13 from the floor and added 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He was the lone Bear to score in double figures.

12 & 5 -- Over the last 5 games, Connor Vanover is averaging 12.4 points and 5.2 rebounds, good for second on the team in both categories. In that span, Vanover has logged a career-high 15 points twice and set career-best totals in rebounding thrice (5, then 6, then 8) and in blocks (4).

6 -- Darius McNeill is within 6 3-pointers of moving into the top 10 in single-season 3-point makes. He has 58 thus far and needs 64 to tie Allen Crabbe (2013), Ryan Anderson (2008) and Bill Elleby (1992) at 10th. McNeill already ranks 8th for his 67 3-pointers last season, a mark that broke the Cal freshman record.

2013 -- Cal's last win at Arizona came on Feb. 10, 2013. The Bears topped the Wildcats, 77-69, behind Allen Crabbe's 31 points and Justin Cobbs' 21 points.

2 -- Thursday's matchup features the Pac-12's top 2 teams when it comes to turnovers. Cal leads the league in fewest turnovers with 282, which ranks 31st nationally, while the Wildcats are second with 294 turnovers, good for 47th nationally.
 

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

• Series Record: Arizona leads, 63-31
• Last Meeting: The Wildcats left Berkeley with an 87-65 win on Jan. 12. Chase Jeter scored 23 points for Arizona, while Justice Sueing was the lone Bear in double figures with a career-high 27.
• Arizona's 2018-19 Record: 14-12, 5-8 Pac-12
• Arizona's Last Game: Arizona lost its seventh consecutive game, falling at Colorado 67-60 on Sunday. Ryan Luther led the Wildcat effort with 17 points, and Dylan Smith added 16.
• Three Wildcats are averaging double-figure scoring in Pac-12 play: Brandon Williams (13.8 points per game), Brandon Randolph (10.2) and Jeter (10.0).
• Williams' 2.17 assist turnover ratio is third in the Pac-12 and 68th in the nation.
• Jeter leads his team in rebounding with 7.0 rebounds per game.
• The Wildcats lead the Pac-12 in turnover margin (3.6) and rank 22nd nationally in the category.
• Arizona is averaging 70.1 points in league play.
• The Wildcats have dropped seven straight, dating back to Jan. 24.

SERIES NOTES
Record at Arizona: 11-34
Last 10 meetings: 1-9
Most points, Cal: 105, 2010-11
Most points, UA: 107, 2010-11
Largest margin, Cal: 44, 1958-59
Largest margin, UA: 46, 2001-02
Longest Cal win streak: 5, 1935-36 to 1958-59
Longest UA win streak: 10, 1999-00 to 2003-04
Current Streak: 6, Arizona

RECORDS AGAINST ARIZONA
Points: 34, Connie White, Dec. 27, 1974
Rebounds: 22, Mark McNamara, Jan. 30, 1982
FG: 16, Connie White, Dec. 27, 1974
3P: 8, Jerome Randle, March 5, 2009
FT: 11, Butch Hays, Jan. 30, 1982
 

LAST TIME OUT

• The Result: Cal fell behind to the Bruins early and coudn't catch up, falling 89-66.
• Justice Sueing led Cal with 17 points for his seventh double-figure outing a row. 
• Sueing added a career-high 5 steals.
• Matt Bradley scored 14 points, his most since pouring in 14 at Washington State on Jan. 17.
• Connor Vanover pulled down a career-best 7 rebounds.
• Cal shot 51.7 percent (15-29) in the second half.
• The Bears allowed 19 3-pointers, with Bennie Boatwright scoring 10 3-pointers.
 

RANKING ROUNDUP

As a team, Cal ranks Top 50 nationally in:
• Fewest Turnovers: 31st, 282
• Turnovers Per Game: 37th, 11.3

Individually, Cal players rank in the Top 100 nationally in:
• Free Throws Made: Justice Sueing (70h, 116)
 

NEXT UP

Cal heads to Tempe, Ariz. to wrap up the weekend against Arizona State on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. PT, airing live on Pac-12 Networks.
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