Sports Network | January 27, 2011
GAME NOTES: The California Golden Bears welcome the Oregon State Beavers to Berkeley tonight for a Pac-10 Conference battle.
Losses in four of the last five games have dropped Oregon State to 8-10 overall and 3-4 in Pac-10 action. Last Saturday, a poor offensive showing led to a 63-59 loss to Oregon in front of a disappointed home crowd. Now, the Beavers must play on the road where they are just 1-5 thus far.
Like Oregon State, California was in action last Saturday, and the Golden Bears managed to halt a two-game skid with a 68-66 victory over USC. That thrilling win enabled Cal to improve to 10-9 overall, and the team can even its conference mark at 4-4 with a victory tonight.
California owns a 75-60 series lead over Oregon State, but the Beavers have won three of the last four meetings.
Jared Cunningham has been the most productive player for Oregon State this season, as he is scoring 14.3 ppg on the strength of his 43.8 percent shooting from three-point range. Perhaps even more impressive than Cunningham's scoring output is his work at the defensive end, as he has already recorded 56 steals. Calvin Haynes is the only other double-digit scorer for the Beavers, as he checks in with 10.2 ppg. Oregon State is generating 72.5 ppg while surrendering an almost identical 72.4 ppg this season. In conference games alone, however, the Beavers are being outscored by nearly four points per contest. Against rival Oregon last Saturday, Oregon State shot just 38.5 percent from the field, including a lackluster 5-of-20 showing from three- point range. At the defensive end, the Beavers permitted the Ducks to knock down 50 percent of their field goal attempts. Lathen Wallace scored 15 points in the loss for Oregon State, which also got 11 points from Roberto Nelson.
Harper Kamp is currently playing his best ball of the season for California. The standout forward has led the club in scoring in three consecutive outings, and he is fresh off a 19-point effort against USC last Saturday. He got help from the trio of Mark Sanders-Frison, Brandon Smith and Allen Crabbe, as all three players netted 12 points. The Golden Bears hit 5-of-9 three-pointers in the tilt and finished with a 17-9 edge in points from the foul line, two obvious contributing factors in the triumph. Kamp is scoring 14.4 ppg on 53.3 percent shooting from the field, and he is ripping down 5.6 rpg through 19 outings. Jorge Gutierrez, who has started all 19 games alongside Kamp, checks in with 11.9 ppg and 77 assists, while Crabbe adds 11.5 ppg. Sanders-Frison provides 10.2 ppg for the Golden Bears, who are netting 68.6 ppg while allowing 68.9 ppg.
Considering Kamp's play in the last three games, Cal has to be considered the favorite tonight. Expect the Golden Bears to pull away in the second half.
GAME NOTES: The California Golden Bears welcome the Oregon State Beavers to Berkeley tonight for a Pac-10 Conference battle.
FACTS & STATS: Site: Haas Pavilion (12,000) -- Berkeley, California. Television: FSN, CSN-Bay Area, MSG+. Home Record: Oregon St. 7-5, Cal 6-4. Away Record: Oregon St. 1-5, Cal 3-3. Neutral Record: Oregon St. 0-0, Cal 1-2. Conference Record: Oregon St. 3-4, Cal 3-4. Series Record: California leads, 75-60.
Thursday, January 27th, 11:00 p.m. (et)
California 76, Oregon State 65