The Cal Bears Keonte Kennedy takes the ball to the hoop against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Sat Feb 3, 2024 (Cal Bears basketball photo)

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Arizona

California Golden Bears 81 (9-13 Overall; 5-6 Pac-12)

Arizona Wildcats 66 (11-11 Overall; 5-6 Pac-12)

By Stephen Ruderman

After being clobbered by the Arizona Wildcats, the Bears traveled up Interstate-10 to Tempe, where they took out their frustrations on the Arizona State Sun Devils and shellacked them, 81-66.

Cal won the opening tip, and it was all Bears from the very getgo. Jalen Celestine hit a three, and that started an 8-0 opening drive for the Bears, which was capped off by a layup by Fadaws Aimaq, as well as a three-ball by Keonte Kennedy.

Adam Miller was fouled, and got the Sun Devils on the board with a pair of shots from the line, which started a 7-2 drive, which put the Sun Devils back in it at 10-7.

Aimaq followed that up with a layup that started a 14-3 run. This run, like many that the Bears have made this season, was a team effort. Kennedy, Celestine, Grant Newell and Jalen Cone all scored, as every single shot during the drive was made by a different player.

The score stabilized throughout the remainder of the first half, and Aimaq led the way with 10 points, as the Bears went into the half up 38-26.

Aimaq and the Bears started out strong in the second half as well. He hit a jump shot 30 seconds in; made two from the line; and slammed one down, as the Bears opened their lead to 44-26.

The Sun Devils then went on an 11-3 drive that chipped away at Cal’s lead, and got Arizona State back in it at 47-38.

The Bears have come back from their fair share of large deficits, but they have also blown their fair share of big leads this season. However, today was not going to be one of those games, and the Bears went on an 11-4 run to open their lead back up to 58-42.

From there, Cal put the game away, as a three by Kennedy put the Bears up by 20 at 68-48 with 6:58 to go. The Sun Devils made a bit of noise at the end, but it was far too late, as the Bears won it, 81-66.

The Bears improve to 5-6 in Pac-12 play, and 9-13 overall. They will now return back home to Berkeley for a two-game homestand at Haas Pavilion, which will start with an 8 p.m. tip against the USC Trojans on Thursday night.