Cal Downed By TCU At Emerald Coast Classic

NICEVILLE, Fla. – California executed defensively but committed 19 turnovers in a 59-48 loss to TCU at the Emerald Coast Classic on Friday night.

The Golden Bears could not get closer than six points in the second half despite holding TCU (4-1) to 39.3 percent shooting from the floor and just 17.6 percent from 3-point range. It was the Golden Bears’ sixth straight loss to start the season and dropped them into a third-place matchup with Clemson at 1 p.m. PT on Saturday.

“I thought that we created the style of game that we wanted to create,” Cal head coach Mark Fox said. “(But) we did give up 14 offensive rebounds, which was a major concern going into the game…(and) on the offensive end with 19 turnovers, you just can’t win that way.”

Lars Thiemann and Devin Askew scored 12 points apiece to pace Cal. Thiemann added eight rebounds while Askew chipped in three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Sam Alajiki finished with seven points and four boards.

It was a back-and-forth affair for the first five minutes before the Horned Frogs took the lead for good on a second-chance layup by Eddie Lampkin with 14:47 remaining in the first half. After a layup by Joel Brown brought Cal within one point, 17-16, the Bears missed their next eight field goals over a six-minute span and eventually went to the intermission with a 27-21 deficit.

TCU used a 13-5 run for its largest lead of the game, 46-32 with 8:41 left. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Kuany Kuany and Grant Newell cut the Frogs’ lead to 46-38, but Cal was unable to get closer.

Mike Miles Jr. scored 23 points and matched a career-high nine rebounds for TCU in his return to the court after missing the past two games.

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Cal will shift gears quickly to face Clemson (3-2) in the third-place game at the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT and the contest will be streamed on FloSports. The Tigers lost 74-71 to No. 25 Iowa in Friday’s first semifinal matchup.