by Morris Phillips

photo credit: Corvallis Gazzette Oregon State’s Daniel Gomis shoots over Cal’s Jaylen Brown Saturday night

BERKELEY–The Cal Bears (12-5)  defense had a break down in the first half of Saturday night’s game at Oregon State (11-3) in their 77-71 loss they wound up scoring 27 points their lowest for first half scoring. The Beavers made a couple key shots in the game that helped their cause. It just nullified the fact that Cal in the last five minutes made nine baskets in a row.

The Bears had scored all nine on consecutive possessions but were too far behind to make up that gap and they got it down to three and the Beavers were able to hold them off. The Beavers are much improved and their in the NCAA picture along with a bunch of other Pac 12 teams.

ESPN is projecting if the tournament were tomorrow that eight of the 12 Pac 12 teams in the tournament have to win on the road and it’s going to be difficult to come by and so far Cal doesn’t have one. They’ve got to come back strong on Thursday night and get one at Stanford.

Morris Phillips will have the Cal Bears coverage from Stanford on Thursday night listen to his podcast below right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com