Cal Dealt Loss At No. 11 Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 11 Arizona controlled the tempo from the start and defeated the California men’s basketball team 91-65 at McKale Center on Thursday.

The Wildcats (16-5, 7-3 Pac-12) made 13 of their first 20 field-goal attempts as they raced out to a 20-point advantage, 33-13, less than 12 minutes into the contest. Cal (8-13, 4-6), which saw its two-game win streak snapped, could not pull within 15 points after halftime.

Jalen Celestine scored a team-high 13 points for Cal on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3 of 5 from deep. Jaylon Tyson finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season, and Fardaws Aimaq chipped in 10 points, five boards and three blocks. Rodney Brown Jr. scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

Cal was bested 51-32 on the glass – its worst rebounding margin of the season – and the Wildcats attempted 30 free throws (18 of 30) compared to just nine (6 of 9) by the Bears.

Oumar Ballo posted a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds to pace Arizona. Three other Wildcats – Keshad Johnson (15 points), KJ Lewis (14) and Caleb Love (12) – scored in double figures.

Cal takes on Arizona State at noon PST/1 p.m. MST on Saturday in Tempe. The contest will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.