Bears Can't Buy a Bucket in Loss to #23 SDSU in San Jose Tip-Off

SAN JOSE, CA - Cal’s paltry first-half display of offense where they converted just 5 of 32 shots from the field and 0-for-12 from 3 didn’t get much better as the game wore on, with the Bears falling decisively to #23 San Diego State, 71-50.

The Bears had the travel advantage over the Aztecs, with SAP Arena being just an hour up the highway from Berkeley while SDSU had to fly Southwest and take Ubers to an alternate airport with Irvine fogged in and canceling flights, arriving much later than planned. And while it may have showed in the Aztecs' first half efforts, they were ultimately able to shake off the travel rust in their win.

“San Diego State completely took us out of our offense, especially in the first half,” head coach Mark Madsen said after the game. “They forced us into turnovers, live ball turnovers. They converted on those, but they really killed us on the glass.

“In that first half, we got a lot of second-chance points. We've got to find a way not to turn the ball over 18 times. I take responsibility for that.

“Our defense in the first half was okay. Our defense in the second half was poor. We did not have the sense of urgency on their shots that we needed to have. I was proud of the guys. They fought the entire game, but we did not execute well enough to win.”

The game started off as a defensive struggle as the Bears managed to hold a lead over the Aztecs through the first 11:35 of the game despite scoring only 10 points until SDSU forward Pharaoh Compton converted a fast break layup to put the Aztecs up 11-10 - a lead they’d never relinquish.

The defensive struggle ended with the Aztecs leading just 25-16 at the half.

Starting wing Andrej Stojakovic, coming off a series of ever-increasing scoring personal bests went just 0-for-9 for the field in the first half with just four free throws to add to his scoring line. The soph finally picked up a pair of buckets in the second half, finishing with 10 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals in the loss. Frosh point guard Jeremiah Wilkerson led the Bears in scoring with 13 points on just 3-for-11 from the floor and 0-for-7 from 3. Center Mady Sissoko led the Bears on the defensive end with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks but was unhappy with his play overall.

“I'm just trying to be a team player,” Sissoko said after the game. “And I made a lot of mistakes today. To have 11 boards - I'm supposed to do that. But I missed a lot (of blocks) with my two. I miss a couple of box-outs. So I’m just trying to be a team player.”

Even though the Bears held the Aztecs to 71 points and just 37% from the floor and 34% from 3, the Bears only managed 25% from the floor themselves and just 20% from the perimeter.

Cal will next take the court by ringing in the new year on their first ACC road trip, playing at Pitt on New Year’s Day.