Courtesy: Cal Bears Athletics

The University of California Golden Bears defeated the UCSB Gauchos 68 – 59 Tuesday evening at Haas Pavilion.

The Bears (7 – 3) held off a late rally attempt by the pesky Gauchos (4 – 6) through interior passing for easy buckets in the paint. Robert Thurman led Cal’s attack with 14 points, followed by Allen Crabbe’s 12 points, and 10 points each by Tyrone Wallace and David Kravish. Wallace achieved a double-double by adding 1o rebounds. Cal pushed to the lead to 22 points at one point in the second half, before the Gauchos started hitting 3-point shots to keep the score respectable.

Thurman also grabbed six rebounds, while a contingent of Justin Cobbs, Richard Solomon, Christian Behrens, Kravish, and Crabbe grabbed four rebounds each. Ricky Kreklow led the Golden Bears with six assists, while Wallace dished off four.

Cal shot 28-of-65 (43.1%) from the field, 6-of-14 (42.9%) behind the 3-point line, and 6-of-10 (60%) from the free throw line. Cal out rebounded UCSB 45 – 40.

Kyle Boswell led a balanced Gaucho scoring attack with 12 points, shooting 4-of-10 behind the 3-point line. Nate Garth and Taran Brown scored 11 points apiece, with Garth leading the Gauchos with six assists. Alan Williams led UCSB with 12 rebounds, followed by Lewis Thomas and Garth with six boards each. Brown led the Gauchos with 3 blocked shots.

Despite shooting 13-of-30 (43.3%) from the 3-point line, the Gauchos struggled from the field overall (22 – 66 for 33,3%), and from the free throw line (2-of-5 for 40%).

The Gauchos could not convert on numerous shots in the lane, as Cal’s interior defense contested many Gaucho attempts, turning potentially easy buckets into high-difficulty shots. On offense, Cal’s strength in the paint was too much for the Gauchos, who gave up numerous layups to the taller Bears.

Box Score

Cal hosts Prairie View A & M December 22 at Haas Pavilion. Tip off is 2 pm Pacific time.