By Morris Phillips

Now that the Cal Bears have established themselves as a pretty good club and a real contender in the Pac-12 race with a well-timed win streak, they appear focused on the finer points.

Against the visiting Washington Huskies, defense was at the top of their improvement list and it appeared to be razor sharp.

Cal throttled Washington, 82-56, to move into a first place tie atop the Pac-12 with No. 1 Arizona, holding the Huskies to 24 percent shooting and 17 points in the first half.  Offensively, the Bears place five guys in double figures, shooting 55 percent from the field, and 60 percent from three.

“Defensively, they did a really good job,” Coach Mike Montgomery said.  “Justin (Cobbs) was really good on (Washington’s C.J.) Wilcox.  Wilcox ended up with 18, but a lot of that stuff was late.  He did a terrific job.  I think our big guys are causing some people problems inside.  They beat us at point of attack but both Richard (Solomon) and David (Kravish) are in there.”

The Bears have won five straight and seven of eight, the perfect response to what was a pretty blah December in regards to the team’s NCAA tournament prospects.  Helping the push are outside developments like the season-ending injury to Colorado star Spencer Dinwiddie and Arkansas’ big upset of Kentucky on Tuesday.  The Bears beat Arkansas earlier in Hawaii and that win takes on a bit of extra significance as the Razorbacks continue to play well.

The Bears fell behind 8-2 on Wednesday, but things fell into place quickly at that point.  UW went ice cold and Cal finished the first half on a 28-9 run.  Another run to begin the second half boosted Cal’s lead to 21 after reserve Jeff Powers hit a three, was fouled, and completed the rare, four-point play at the free throw line.

“Their size bothered us as much as anyone we have played in a long time,” UW Coach Lorenzo Romar said.  “These guys were on the offensive glass, they blocked shots (and) they really made it tough for us to score.”

Washington came in off wins in five of their last six games, including an upset of ranked Colorado.  Their defense figured to give Cal problems just as Creighton did in Omaha with their zone bunched into the lane forcing the Bears to shoot jump shots.  But Cal shredded the strategy with their quality shooting from distance and hot run in the first half in which they outscored UW 20-3.

Cal now faces Washington State on Saturday at 1pm at Haas Pavilion with an opportunity to improve to 5-0.  On the horizon for the Bears are a trip to Pauley Pavilion to see UCLA on January 26 and a home game against the top-ranked Wildcats on February 1.