By Morris Phillips

When you haven’t won in nearly a month, you’ll go anywhere—even to Pullman, WA—to get a much-needed victory.

That’s where the Cal Bears went, and after some tense moments down the stretch, were able to end a six-game losing streak with a 76-67 win over host Washington State.

The Bears appeared to re-establish their relationship with the rim in the win, shooting 55 percent from the field and scoring 10 more points than they did in any of their six losses in January.  Tyrone Wallace discovered the basket first, scoring 21 of Cal’s initial 39 points in a 26-point, seven-rebound performance that paced the Bears.

While Wallace soared, Cal’s second-leading scorer, Jordan Mathews flatlined, drawing a pair of personal fouls in the game’s first minute.  Mathews finished the first half scoreless and played just four minutes.  But with the game on the line, and WSU holding their only lead of the game’s final 20 minutes, Mathews strung together all nine of his points in the game in Cal’s closing run that turned a 65-64 deficit into a 73-67 lead with 51 seconds remaining.

The Bears improved to 12-9, 2-6 in Pac-12 play and moved out the conference basement with the win while USC fell at home in triple overtime to Colorado.  The Bears will attempt to string together wins for the first time since December 19 on Sunday when they visit Washington in Seattle.

Nine Bears scored on the evening, including all four that played off Coach Cuonzo Martin’s bench one game after only four scored in the dismal loss to No. 7 Arizona at Haas Pavilion.  Brandon Chauca was the big surprise with a career-best 10 points off the bench on 4 of 7 shooting.

Washington State was led by DaVonte Lacy and Josh Hawkinson who combined for 42 points but missed 22 of their combined 34 shots.  The Cougars have lost four straight after opening Pac-12 play 3-1.