Cal Falls Short At UNLV

LAS VEGAS (AP) - California pushed UNLV to the wire but came up short in a 55-52 road loss Saturday evening at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Cal (0-2) was scoreless in the final two minutes but had its chances in the closing seconds. UNLV's Royce Hamm Jr. blocked Jordan Shepherd's layup attempt with 27 seconds remaining. Shepherd missed a 3-pointer four seconds later and another 3-point shot with three seconds to play.

Grant Anticevich scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Cal with his first double-double of the early season. Shepherd finished with nine points.

Hamilton's jumper gave UNLV (2-0) a 53-48 lead with 2:56 to play. Jalen Celestine made a pair of free throws and Andre Kelly's layup pulled Cal to 53-52 with 2:00 left.

Cal used an 11-0 run for a 44-38 lead with 9:20 remaining. But Jordan McCabe and Hamilton each hit 3-pointers between a Donovan Williams layup for a 49-46 advantage, and the Rebels led the rest of the way.

The Golden Bears out-rebounded the Rebels 35-30, marking the eighth time in their last 10 games that they have won the battle on the boards. 

Bryce Hamilton scored 12 points and Mike Nuga added 10 for UNLV. Hamilton was 5 of 14 from the floor and Nuga was 4-of-10 shooting, and they each made two 3-pointers.

UP NEXT
Cal quickly turns around to host San Diego at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15 at Haas Pavilion. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.