I like it. A new nickname, fitting in these pandemic times.
![Story Poster](https://f5s008media.blob.core.windows.net/photos/0031021-puvd-1280x720.jpg)
Bears Get in the Win Column 75-70 Over USD
BERKELEY -The Bears came into Monday night’s contest vs. USD badly in need of a win after a disappointing 0-2 start of the season. In the end, it may not have been pretty or decisive but the Bears’ 75-70 victory was just what the doctor ordered for the struggling program.
The Toreros came in with an impressive 75-68 win over Nevada while the Bears suffered their second straight defeat in a tight 55-42 loss to UNLV in Las Vegas on Saturday.
“We started out slow but we made a couple adjustments with the subs and Jared (Hyder) and Sam (Alajiki) came in and made some plays for us,” said point guard Joel Brown. “Then in the huddles, we kept talking about defensive stops so we can score and run our plays. But playing defense created a lot of those scoring opportunities.”
USD had the upper hand early, getting off to a 16-8 lead seven minutes into the game before the Bears got hot, going on a 19-6 run on the strength of five straight 3-pointers, including a pair from forward Kuany Kuany. The Toreros came back to even things up at the half on a mini 12-6 run to close out the stanza, with Cal forward Grant Anticevich on the bench with three fouls.
The Toreros took the lead to start the second half, going up by as many as five 3:40 into the half on an Earlington trey, 43-38. However after Foreman’s second trey of the game put the Bears up 46-43 with 13:20 remaining, the Bears never relinquished the lead.
The Bears were led by Anticevich with 17 points (5-8 and 3-3 from three) and also got solid contributions from Jordan Shepherd and Andre Kelly with 14 and 13 points and Brown chipping in with 12 points and 7 assists. The return of the Aussie’s perimeter game was a big boost for the Bears. Overall, they went a scorching 10-15 from deep.
Though glad to get in the win column tonight, don’t express horns and streamers from Fox after the victory.
“I don’t think we played as well tonight in many ways as we did on Saturday,” said Fox. “I thought Saturday was a physical, hard-fought game and I thought Saturday we managed the game better than we did tonight.
“Tonight we made some shots that covered up some mistakes. But as we continue to build forward, we have to improve our defense. I thought we played a step behind in the first half and gave up a couple of threes out of the gate. Did the same thing in the second half.
“We’ve got to be able to shore up our three-point defense and as we get comfortable with some guys on the court, hopefully develop a rotation that gives us a little bit better flow offensively.”
The Bears will square off Thursday night against 2020-21 Big West champ Southern Utah, coming off an ugly 70-51 loss to St. Mary’s in Moraga Monday. The Thunderbirds return virtually their whole roster from their 20-4 team.