Bears shake off lopsided loss with dominant, 'motivated' win at ASU

Trying to shake off its most lopsided lack of the season, Cal did so compellingly with its most lopsided Pac-12 win but in a marketing campaign that’s constructing actual momentum in coach Mark Madsen’s first yr on the helm.

The Bears moved on from that 26-point loss at No. 11-ranked Arizona on Thursday by rolling over Arizona State, 81-66, in Tempe on Saturday for his or her third win within the final 4 video games.

Cal (9-13, 5-6 Pac-12) scored the primary 8 factors of the sport and by no means regarded again, main the remainder of the way in which and pushing that benefit as huge as 21 factors late within the second half whereas by no means letting it get nearer than 9 factors after halftime.

Fardaws Aimaq led the way in which with 20 factors, 14 rebounds and 5 assists whereas connecting on 8 of his 12 pictures from the sector, Jalen Cone scored 19 in a bounce-back efficiency, Jaylon Tyson added 17 factors, 10 boards and 5 assists and Keonte Kennedy hit 4 of 6 3-pointers for 12 factors whereas including 4 steals.

“Our guys have been motivated. We had a troublesome one down at Arizona. Arizona is type of the category of the convention, and we did not begin with vitality down there, so the fellows have been dedicated to one another that they have been going to come back out with large vitality,” Madsen stated.

“I believed Fardaws, clearly had 20 and 14, 5 assists, he was dominant. Keonte, you discuss effectivity, he all the time guards the opposite crew’s finest participant, 4 of 6 from 3, he was nice. And Jaylon Tyson, he all the time flirts with a triple-double and he simply makes everyone round him higher.”

A Jalen Celestine 3, a bucket within the paint from Aimaq and a 3 from Kennedy spurred that 8-0 begin for the Bears, who hit 11 of twenty-two 3-pointers as a crew.

Simply as spectacular was the defensive efficiency, although, holding Arizona State (11, 5-6) to 38.6-percent capturing whereas profitable the rebounding benefit 39-35.

“Our guys have been motivated on the defensive facet of the ball,” Madsen stated. “We actually dove in defensively. We made some inner modifications to essentially give attention to the protection, and it has been paying off for us. Now, we have now to maintain it. We’ve got a giant take a look at arising subsequent week.”

That 8-0 lead stretched to 24-10 halfway via the primary half because the Bears hit three 3-pointers within the span of 5 possessions, from Celestine, Grant Newell after which Cone. They took a 38-26 lead into halftime.

As for Cone, the streaky shooter had been simply 1 of 12 from 3-point vary and three of 19 general the final two video games.

Madsen has repeatedly reiterated that his confidence within the quick-trigger guard by no means wanes via the ups and downs, and Cone delivered in a giant means Saturday whereas scoring 16 of his 19 factors within the second half whereas making an environment friendly 6 of 9 pictures (3 of 5 from lengthy distance) and hitting 4 of 5 free throws.

“Jalen Cone, I imply, you possibly can’t say sufficient. Any time Arizona State was getting shut, Jalen Cone nailed a 3 or he made a teammate higher or he bought an enormous cease. I used to be simply actually, actually pleased with Jalen Cone,” Madsen stated.

Certainly, Arizona State had scored 9 straight factors to chop Cal’s result in 44-35 early within the second half and threaten to vary the tenor of the sport solely, however Cone answered again with an extended make from the left nook whereas drawing a foul. It initially regarded like one more 3-pointer for the veteran guard, however video evaluation confirmed his foot was simply on the road. Nonetheless, he knocked down the following free throw whereas stalling the Solar Devils’ momentum.

When Kamari Lands then hit a 3 for Arizona State, Cone bought into the ache on the opposite finish for one more rating and response. He continued to hit massive pictures the remainder of the way in which.

Aimaq, in the meantime, notched his 14th double-double of the season, which leads the Pac-12. His 14 rebounds matched his excessive in convention play, tying the mark he is reached three different occasions already.