November 15, 1998
HONOLULU -
Senior guard Geno Carlisle scored 26 points and senior center Francisco Elson overcame a foul-plagued first half to finish with 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks to lead California to a season-opening 71-60 victory at Hawaii Sunday night.
The Bears shot just 40.4 percent from the floor for the game, but outscored the Rainbows 18-0 from the free throw line in the second half.
Cal sprinted to an early 8-4 lead in the game, but Hawaii went up by six points at 20-14 on a Damon Lee jumper with 9:14 remaining. However, the Bears charged back to take a brief 28-26 lead when Robbie Jones scored on a fastbreak layup. The Rainbows, though, jumped back in front, 34-30, at the break.
After intermission, the Bears began to get the ball inside with greater efficiency and crashed the boards much better than they did in the first 20 minutes as they had 12 offensive rebounds in the second half. Elson proved to be the key figure in the surge, scoring all 10 of his points and grabbing six rebounds in the second half. In the first half, the 7-footer played just four minutes after picking up a pair of fouls.
"I thought his presence in the second half helped us a lot," Cal head coach Ben Braun said of Elson. "He makes things happen and did a good job in the zone. We didn't give up many inside baskets in the second half."
Carlisle totaled 16 of his 26 points in the second half. Although he shot just 7-for-20 from the floor, he was 10-for-11 from the free throw stripe. In fact, it was a four-point play by Carlisle that put Cal up for good. With Hawaii ahead, 45-42, Carlisle beat the shot clock with a long three-pointer, was fouled on the play, and made the ensuing free throw. That gave Cal a 46-45 advantage with 9:25 to go.
The Bears moved ahead by nine, but after Hawaii closed to within 56-51, Cal quickly pushed the lead to 11 points at 62-51. The Bears shot 18-for-21 from the free throw line in the second half, making 15 straight at one point, to ice the game.
Senior forward Mike Gill joined Carlisle and Elson in double figures with 14 points. He also pulled down 10 boards for his first career double-double. Casey Cartwright paced Hawaii with 15 points.
The Bears now have 10 days off before their next game - a Nov. 25 matchup with Eastern Washington at the New Arena in Oakland.
