By the time Cal started really playing basketball Wednesday night it was too late and Pepperdine had assured itself of a victory in Malibu.
The Bears, buried by the home team’s three-point shooting, were down early and stayed there most of the night. They trailed by 14 at the half, 19 with 12 and half minutes to go in the game before trying to make it interesting. They got within ten three times with some chances to make it closer before falling, 74-62.
The Bears (2-4) were swept on the two game road trip after losing to UCLA Sunday and have lost their last six away from home dating back to last year.. Even though Cal is hardly in the top echelon of Pac-12 teams, beating anyone from that conference is a major accomplishment for Pepperdine, trying to make a name for itself under coach Lorenzo Romar. The Waves (3-2) took UCLA to triple overtime and had San Diego State on the ropes so they are legit.
But that is not the concern of Mark Fox. The Cal head coach decried his team’s inability to defend the three-point line from the assault by Pepperdine’s bigger players.. Kessler Edwards, who stands 6-8, was 5-for-9 from beyond the arc, Jan Zedek also 6-8, was 5-for-7 and 6-7 Andre Ball was 5-for-9. Overall the Waves were 12-for-26 on their treys.
“We have not established our defensive ability to get stops yet,” Fox said after the game. “The three-point line with a stretch five was a real challenge for us tonight. They had ten threes in the first half and were playing uphill. We have to find a way to build a defense to give us a chance to win away from home.”
That the Bears were able to stay as close as they did was largely due to the work of senior forward Grant Anticevich, who had 14 of his 21 points in the first half. But even he couldn’t keep Pepperdine from pulling away in the second period. When Ball buried a trey with 12:27 left it was 55-36, Pepperdine.
But Matt Bradley, who had gone just 12-for-33 from the field in the previous two games, finally started to find the range. He warmed up from long distance, made some effective drives, and helped the Bears tighten the defense. Cal soon was within ten but could get no closer. The last time was 60-70 with 2:03 left on a layup by Ryan Betley, who never did get untracked. Pepperdine scored the next two buckets and ended Cal’s chances.
Bradley finished the night with 27 points, 16 in the second half in which he was 7-for-13 from the floor. But besides Anticevich he had little help. Betley and Makale Foreman, the two grad transfers counted on for three-point shooting had four points apiece and were a combined 1-for-11 on threes.
Cal Athletics
Makale Foreman (10) is hemmed in
“To win on the road we are going to have to have several guys contribute,” Fox said. “Matt showed a lot of maturity to day. ...Matt hadn’t played as well to start the year. He hasn’t shot it as well. It was nice to see he and Grant be as effective as they were. That was a positive, Obviously, Makale and Ryan didn’t shoot it as well.”
The game was something a coming-out party for Anticevich, who had been averaging just 6.6 points per game.
“Grant went from not playing at all two years ago to playing probably too much last year,” Fox said. “He didn’t have that year where you usually have the medium step, where you play half those minutes and build confidence and experience. I think that now he can relax and be confident. He can go a couple of minutes without a shot and still maintain his poise.”
Cal was able to contain the Waves’ All-American guard Colbey Ross, who came in averaging 20.5 points per game, scored just nine. However, he did dish out 11 assists.
This was Cal’s first loss to Pepperdine in four games. Last year Fox posted his first regular season win against the Waves.
Cal returns home Sunday to take on another WCC foe, cross-bay rival USF. Then the Bears head east to take on Boston College on Dec. 22 before resuming Pac-12 play at Oregon on New Year’s Eve.
Related:
Men's Basketball Falls to UCLA
“
