by Michael Duca

RENO NV–The Cal Bears (6-1) Jordan Matthews was 0-6 before he got his first two pointers in the Bears last game against the Montana Grizzlies (2-4) in their two point 78-76 win on Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion and Matthews wound up with 13 points. He was having a poor game up until the time he hit a nothing but net shot that tied up the ball game in regulation something he predicted he would do at the half.

Matthews came alive when he needed to and that wasn’t a fun way to spend an evening that was not a well played game by Cal or Montana. The best defense Cal had all night was their free throw defense as the Grizzlies were under 50 percent at the free throw line. Cal guard Tyrone Wallace did well in the first half scoring nine in the first half and all of the second half he made rebounds with 29, 14 from defense and 15 on offense.

Talking with head coach Cunozo Martin, Martin said that the game had no flow for the first 35 minutes, the Bears got walked on when Montana went on a 19 point run to take an eight point lead. It was not a well played game and they got blocked on an in bounds pass. On offense it didn’t take long to go through with their senior David Kravish who finished the ball game with 14 points.

Kravish is one of the best players along side either team he scored 6-14 points in the second overtime which proved critical in the Bears come back. Kravish also chalked up a go ahead basket with under 30 seconds to win the ball game for Cal. Wallace said of the game, “it showed a lot of toughness and heart, we made plays when we had to.”

Matthews got hot in the second half scoring all his 13 points in the of the game, Matthews also converted two three pointers including a three pointer 17 feet out in the corner to tie up the game, “that’s a play we work on in practice everyday, it’s for any situation, it was set up perfectly.” said Matthews. The high scorer for Montana on Wednesday night was Jordan Gregory who had 23 points and 12 rebounds for a his career high and Jermaine Edmonds scored 12.

The Bears gear up to face the Wolf Pack (2-5) in Reno Nevada on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM, the Wolf Pack are struggling they have lost five straight and the Bears are coming off a three game win streak. The Bears head to Reno missing their most important guard Jabari Bird whose been averaging 11.7 points per game. Bird is suffering from a foot injury.

Martin was asked what did the x-ray on Bird’s foot showed and Martin replied “a foot” and so I guess were not allowed to know what the exact problem Bird is having with his foot right now. Bird has been sporting a boot and Martin is not sure when Bird will be back in and he’s sorely missed on defense right now. He’s day to day. Cal tips off at 1:00PM on Sunday afternoon in Reno.

Michael Duca does Cal commentary each week and Morris Phillips is your game day Cal beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com