BERKELEY – Matt Bradley scored 26 points and Grant Anticevich added 11 as California used a strong second half to put away Nicholls State, 60-49, in the Golden Bears' home opener Monday at Haas Pavilion.
 
Cal (2-1) sank 10 3-pointers, led by three each from Bradley and Anticevich. After shooting just 26.7 percent (8-30) through the first 20 minutes of action, the Bears found their rhythm in the second half and shot 60 percent (12-20). Bradley netted 19 of his 26 points in the second half and reached the free throw line eight times, connecting on seven attempts.
 
It was just the second all-time meeting between Cal and Nicholls State (2-2). The first game occurred during the 2007-08 season when Cal bested the Colonels, 74-62.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears trailed, 4-3, early before going on an 18-2 run over an 8:59 span to take a 21-6 lead. Nicholls State responded with a 16-2 run of its own to draw within five points, 23-18, at halftime. A pair of 3-pointers by Makale Foreman jumpstarted the Cal run. Nicholls State tied the game at 23-all early in the second half before a Bradley 3-pointer at the 17:18 mark put the Bears up for good.
 
A turnaround jumper by Najee Garvin pulled Nicholls State within a 40-36 deficit with 8:01 on the clock. Cal put together an 11-point run over the following five minutes, however, to pull away 51-36. Anticevich drained a pair of his 3-pointers during the stretch while Joel Brown added a steal and coast-to-coast layup.
 
Bradley scored Cal's final 11 points, including six foul shots in the final 28 seconds, to help preserve the win.
 
Garvin led the Colonels with 15 points and Ty Gordon scored 12.
 
NEXT UP
Cal returns to action on Thursday when the Bears welcome No. 25 Arizona State to Haas Pavilion. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. PT and the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
 
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