Cal MBB Insta-Recap: Bears fight for a win over Aggies

First Half

The California Golden Bears return from their New York trip with a matchup at home against the UC Davis Aggies. The Bears got some semblance of an offense going in the first minutes of the half, taking a quick 8-0 lead against the Aggies. Davis’ defense started solidifying midway through the half, even coming away with a steal, but the Bears kept on rolling, with players executing on prime scoring opportunities. Later in the half, the Bears hit a drought, turning the ball over 4 times consecutively, but Matt Bradley and Kareem South helped out with 11-point contributions each, and Davis slouched with a 1-8 scoring drought of their own. The Bears ended the half up 11 over the Aggies, 36-25.

Second Half

Lars Thiemann got things started in the second half with a dunk, assisted by Joel Brown. The Aggies continued to chip away at and finally erase the Bears lead, overcoming what was an 18-point advantage back in the first half with a 13 point run. Suddenly, the three-pointers so often missed by Davis in the first half started to find the basket, and the Bears struggled to keep up with the Aggies. With just about 5 minutes remaining, the Bears took the lead with three points from both Bradley and Paris Austin. After an ugly last few minutes ridden with fouls on both sides, the Bears managed to emerge on top 72-66; Austin, Grant Anticevich, South, and Bradley all finished in double figures, and Anticevich picked up 11 rebounds.