Morgan State Guard Walter Peggs Jr, drives into the lane who is heavily contested by Cal Berkeley forward Dhiaukuei “DK” Manyiel Dut. (Photo credits to Sports Radio Services Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – Cal men’s basketball has again transformed its home court into a fortress under the cold lights of “Haas of Pain.” In front of the Berkeley crowd, the Golden Bears put up a strong and effective performance, dominating the Morgan State Bears, 97-50.

Cal and Morgan State faced off on Tuesday night for the first time since November 25, 1991, at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. Cal won that game 97-50, and with this game, the Golden Bears extended their all-time series lead to 2-0.

Cal was in the middle of an eight-game homestand and had its best start since 2014, with a 10-1 overall record entering the contest. The Bears entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, their longest since 2014, and were unbeaten at home, with a perfect 9-0 record at Haas Pavilion.

The Golden Bears began the game with a starting lineup of John Camden, Chris Bell, Lee Dort, Dai Dai Ames, and Semetri Carr, who made his first start for the team. Dort instantly set the tone for the game, exciting the fans with back-to-back alley-oop punches. Cal then solidly claimed its home turf, dominating the tempo and imposing dominance over the Morgan State Bears.

Cal guard Dai Dai Ames entered the game averaging 18.3 points per game, while forward Chris Bell continued his strong runs of play, averaging 14.2 points in his previous ten games. Bell made an immediate impact, scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds by halftime. Morgan State struggled to find an answer for Bell’s offensive mix, especially in the midrange, as he shot 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc in the opening half.

Cal’s shooting efficiency was on full show in the first half, as the Golden Bears made 50 percent of their three-point tries and went 4-for-8 from deep. They were just as good overall, shooting 61 percent from the floor on 17 of 28 attempts. Berkeley played with poise and discipline on offense, moving the ball around the top of the key and making timely cuts that led to easy points.

The Golden Bears took care of the ball, causing only three turnovers as a team by halftime, while their defensive drive pushed Morgan State into six turnovers before the break. Morgan State was overwhelmed offensively, trying to find any rhythm and shooting 0-for-10 from outside the arc at halftime, while Cal maintained its momentum into the second half. At the break, the Golden Bears led 50-23.

Cal did not stop after the break, continuing to dominate on both ends of the court. Chris Bell led the squad with 28 points (8-of-11 shooting), six rebounds, and two assists. John Camden finished with 20 points, giving the Bears multiple scoring options that Morgan State couldn’t handle. Cal combined for 42 points in the paint and 21 points on the fast break, proving their depth and versatility. The Golden Bears won by nearly 50 points with a 97-50 triumph, dominating from start to finish and exiting Haas Pavilion with another statement win.

With their win, the Golden Bears improved to 11-1 overall and remained perfect at home with an 11-0 record. Cal returns to the “Haas of Pain” on Sunday, December 21st at 2 p.m. to host the Columbia Lions. The game will be aired and shown on the ACC Network