Colin Mequet

With most Cal fans expecting a blowout loss, with a win out of the question, the Bears raised eyebrows with a surprisingly gutsy performance that, of course, still ended in defeat.

Arizona, a well-oiled machine that has churned out multiple 20+ point wins this season, knows exactly how to lay waste to inferior teams like Cal.

The Bears were better defensively tonight, but they could never click on the offensive end — no performance has been complete so far this season.

In the face of Cal’s intense pressure, Texas State responded with complete sangfroid. The Bobcats were resolute in earning their points the old-fashioned way — in the paint — and capitalized on Cal’s overeagerness to launch fast breaks by dominating the offensive boards.

Every passing game in which Cal suffers from sloppy turnovers, the lack of a secondary scorer beyond Askew and lapses in defensive concentration cement these issues as inherent to this year’s team.

The gulf in historical success between the two teams cannot be understated. Following Tuesday’s game, however, the Tritons have fully established recent superiority over the Bears.

If the Bears expect to get payback this time around, their performance on Tuesday must be a departure from what they have displayed so far.

Oregon State surged to a commanding 21-0 lead early in the second quarter –– a winning margin it expanded to win 38-10.

More concerning than its record is the manner in which Cal ceded both games. The Bears’ performances this season have displayed multiple cold shooting stretches with seemingly no end and only the most fleeting moments of offensive inspiration.

Cal entered the game with a perfect 33-0 record against UC Davis, last renewing their dominance against the Aggies in 2019. The Bears relinquished their undefeated standing in the matchup, however, losing 65-75.