BERKELEY, Calif. — Jordan Mathews scored 31 points and knocked down three of his career-high five 3-pointers in the second half, leading California to an 81-75 upset of No. 21 Washington on Friday night in the Pac-12 opener for both schools.
David Kravish had a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Bears, who had lost consecutive games for the first time under new coach Cuonzo Martin.
Nigel Williams-Goss had 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists and Robert Upshaw added 16 points, eight boards and five blocks for Lorenzo Romar’s Huskies, who lost their second straight and still must play a tough game at Stanford on Sunday in jeopardy of falling out of the Top-25 poll. Washington has dropped the last three against Cal (11-3, 1-0 Pac-12).
Quevyn Winters missed an open 3 with 13 seconds left that would have made it a one-possession game. The Huskies (11-2, 0-1), ranked No. 13 in the previous poll, were stunned 62-57 at home by Stony Brook last Sunday.
Mathews shot 8 for 14, hitting a 3-pointer with 6:37 remaining moments after Mike Anderson’s 3 on the other end had pulled the Huskies to 56-52. Mathews scored again from long ranger at 4:18 and also converted 10 of 12 free throws.
Jernard Jarreau converted a three-point play, then Williams-Goss made a steal and layin, then converted two free throws with 4:40 left to pull Washington within 61-59.
Mathews delivered again to keep Cal ahead, and he finished with four or more 3s in a game for the fourth time in his career.
Washington shot 53.6 percent in the first half, but the Bears established their tempo in the fast break early in the second. The Huskies committed three turnovers in a span of 2:37 as Cal took a 43-38 lead at the 13:26 mark of the second half on Tyrone Wallace’s layin.
Wallace wound up with 19 points and shot 11 for 12 from the line for Cal, which concluded the non-conference schedule with at least 10 wins for the first time since also beginning the 2011-12 season 10-3. The Bears were 24 of 34 overall on free throws.
The Bears, who came in holding opponents to 59.7 points per game, also swarmed the middle defensively in the second half to slow down the 7-footer Upshaw. He made only two shots over the final 20 minutes.
Cal missed 10 straight field-goal tries midway through the first half, a stretch of 5:08 between Kravish’s two baskets, and shot 31.6 percent in the first half but stayed within 32-27 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Washington: Shawn Kemp Jr. played his 100th collegiate game. … Washington’s best start was 18-0 in 1928-29. … Upshaw has 60 blocks and is seven from tying the UW single-season record held by David Dixon and Christian Welp. … Williams-Goss has 89 assists through 13 games.
California: Cal hosted Washington in its conference home opener for the third straight year. The Bears are 9-4 in conference openers dating to 2003. They beat the Huskies during the five-game winning streak in Pac-12 play starting last season. … Cal is 8-2 at home in Haas Pavilion.
UP NEXT
Washington: At Stanford on Sunday night.
Cal: Hosts Washington State on Sunday.
