BERKELEY – The California men's basketball team continues its three-game home stand Wednesday when it hosts NC State. The late-night ACC contest will tip off at 8 p.m. PT in Haas Pavilion and will be broadcast on ACC Network and 810 AM.
 
GAME INFORMATION

• Date & Time: Wednesday, Feb. 5 | 8 p.m. PT
• Location: Berkeley, California | Haas Pavilion
• Watch: ACC Network | Chris Sylvester (PxP) & Richie Schueler (Analyst)
• Listen: 810 AM & Varsity Network App | Justin Allegri (PxP) & Theo Robertson (Analyst)
• Live Stats: Statbroadcast

INSIDE THE MATCHUP – CAL vs. NC STATE

• Series record: Cal leads, 2-1
• Cal and NC State clashed for the first time as ACC foes less than three weeks ago on Jan. 18 in Raleigh, where the Bears earned a 65-62 road win.
• NC State is one of three ACC teams that Cal plays at home and on the road during the 2024-25 season (SMU, Stanford).
• The Wolfpack has lost six in a row dating back to Jan. 11 and remains winless away from home (0-5 away; 0-2 neutral).
• Wednesday's contest is the fourth all-time between the programs. The first two meetings came in the first round of the 2003 and 2006 NCAA Tournaments; Cal edged the Pack 76-74 in '03 in Oklahoma City behind Richard Midgley's go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in overtime, but NC State got revenge three years later with a 58-52 win in '06 in Dallas.

STARTING FIVE
1. You Again?
The Golden Bears and Wolfpack go head-to-head for the second time in three weeks when they meet in Haas Pavilion on Wednesday night. Cal earned its second road victory of the season and capped its most recent East Coast trip with a 65-62 win in the first meeting.
 
It was a full-team effort for Cal in Raleigh as five Bears scored in double figures, led by Jovan Blacksher Jr.'s 14 points – including the go-ahead bucket on a left-handed layup with one minute remaining – and 13 points from DJ Campbell. The Bears cranked it up defensively, too, holding NC State to 1-of-10 shooting from 3-point range and six fast-break points; the Pack entered the game with an ACC-best 16 fast-break points per game.
 
2. Getting Back On Track
Cal is looking to regain momentum Wednesday following a difficult week that included a road loss at SMU and a defeat by Syracuse at home. The Bears were shorthanded in both games, playing without leading scorer Andrej Stojakovic (18.9 PPG, third most in the ACC) in both games as well as starting center Mady Sissoko in the loss at SMU.
 
Cal rose to the challenge defensively in Dallas, holding the Mustangs' high-powered offense to seven less points than its season average (ACC-leading 83.1 PPG entering the game). But two difficult offensive nights saw the Bears shoot 18.3% (11 of 60) from 3-point range and tally just four assists in the 75-66 loss to the Orange.
 
3. Rising Star
Jeremiah Wilkinson continues to traject toward being one of the most dynamic freshmen to put on a Golden Bear uniform. The left-hander ranks 10th nationally in scoring (13.4 PPG) among freshman guards and has taken a leap since being inserted into the starting lineup four games ago (21.0 PPG since Jan. 22). Wilkinson, a two-time ACC Rookie of the Week, has scored double figures in 16 of the past 18 games, including nine times in 11 ACC games (14.4 PPG in ACC play).
 
4. All Grit
Rytis Petraitis has won over the Golden Bear fan base with a do-it-all style of play. While much of Petraitis' game doesn't show up in the box score, he's made his presence felt statistically in ACC play by averaging 8.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 1.5 APG, as well as posting two double-doubles in the past four games – 18 points, 10 rebounds at SMU; 12 points, 13 rebounds (eight offensive) vs. Florida State.
 
5. Attack The Rim
The Bears are scoring more than 67% of their points in the paint or at the free throw line this season, signaling an emphasis on getting to the rim. Cal leads the ACC (16th nationally) with 17.6 free throws made per game and has scored 40-plus paint points five times, most recently including in back-to-back games two weeks ago against Florida State and Miami.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears' week at home concludes against Wake Forest on Saturday. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. PT in Haas Pavilion.
 
SUPPORT THE BEARS
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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