BERKELEY (AP) – Freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson continued his recent tear with a career-high 25 points and six 3-pointers to lead California to an 81-55 victory over Mercyhurst on Wednesday night in the Cal Classic finale.
 
Wilkinson made 9 of 12 shots overall and 6 of 8 from deep to best his previous season high of 23 points, set just two games ago against Air Force. After scoring 11 total points across Cal's first four games of the season, the rookie amassed 64 points over the past three games. Wilkinson also added personal bests of four assists and two steals Wednesday.
 
Andrej Stojakovic had 15 points and Joshua Ola-Joseph added 13 for Cal (6-1), which improved to 5-0 at home and continued its best start since the 2016-17 campaign.
 
One 3-pointer by Stojakovic and two from Wilkinson helped the Golden Bears push their 18-point halftime lead to 58-35. Later in the second half, a 10-0 run that started near the 10-minute mark gave Cal a 30-point lead.
 
A four-point play by Devin Curtis gave the Bears their biggest lead, 81-48, with 2:50 remaining.
 
Bernie Blunt scored 11 points and Aidan Reichert added 10 for the Lakers.
 
The Bears scored two points in the first 4 1/2 minutes but shot 65% from the field over the remainder of the first half and a season-best 54.7% for the game.
 
Mady Sissoko (9), Lee Dort (8) and Ola-Joseph (7) combined for 23 of Cal's 38 rebounds. Wilkinson's 25 points were the most by a Cal freshman in a single game since Justice Sueing scored 25 against Washington State on Feb. 22, 2018.
 
Cal was without Jovan Blacksher Jr., DJ Campbell and BJ Omot for a third straight game due to injuries.
 
UP NEXT
Cal goes on the road to face Missouri in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
 
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Tickets for the 2024-25 campaign can be purchased by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets, calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or emailing goldstandard@berkeley.edu. Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men's Basketball Excellence Initiative or the California Legends Collective.
 
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