Men's Basketball: Cal Shocks Stanford, Wins 92-70
Men's Basketball: Cal Shocks Stanford, Wins 92-70
Golden Bears have now won two straight conference games
California graduate guard DeJuan Clayton scored a game-high 26 points against the Stanford Cardinal (5-10, 0-5 Pac-12), leading the Golden Bears (3-13, 2-3 Pac-12) to its second conference victory in a row.
California’s 92-70 win over Stanford is its first time scoring 90 points or more in regulation since 2015.
The Golden Bears’ remarkable 22-point margin of victory came from hot shooting behind the arc. California rained threes, making 16 of 22 shots from downtown.
California sophomore Sam Alajiki entered the game in the fifth minute and scored a three-point jumper only 33 seconds after his debut. The forward from Dundalk, Ireland, had a breakout game with a career-high 19 points, making five of six three-pointers and adding two rebounds and steals.
After trading the lead in the first half, California pulled away from their arch rivals with 5:15 remaining in the first half. After a foul by Cardinal Maxime Raynaud, senior Lars Thiemann made his second free throw to put California up 33-32. The home team did not let up steam and never lost its lead, maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the second half.
California has won three out of the last four matches but remains one of the worst Power Five teams in college basketball. Only 2-13 Louisville has a poorer record in the top leagues.
After their defeat in Haas Pavilion Friday night, the Cardinal remain winless in Pac-12 Conference league play after five games.
Thanks Rick for the killer recap!! Great game - probably the best Cal effort of the Mark Fox era.
Standings: Cal now in 8th place in the conference.