Box Score
BERKELEY, Calif. --- California shot 53 percent from the field and defeated the visiting Portland Pilots 81-61 in the championship game of the Golden Bear Classic Sunday evening at Haas Pavilion. Junior guard T.J. Campbell and sophomore forward Luke Sikma were both named to the All-Tournament Team for the Pilots. Campbell had 10 points and nine assists, while Sikma added 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Pilots (7-6) played without starting center Kramer Knutson (concussion) for the second consecutive game. The 20-point defeat was the largest of the season for Portland, who advanced to the title game with a 43-42 win against Air Force on Saturday.
Cal (11-2) made 25-of-32 free throws in the game compared to Portland’s 7-for-12 effort from the stripe. Portland struggled to 38 percent shooting for the game.
Jamal Boykin led all scorers and finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Golden Bears. Theo Robertson and Jerome Randle added 16 points each. Randle was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The Pilots cut a 10-point halftime deficit to eight on a jumper by Ethan Niedermeyer early in the second period, but Cal pulled way as Robertson led the surge. His dunk gave the Golden Bears a 54-41 lead and later Robertson drilled a three-pointer and followed with two free throws for a 67-48 edge. Cal would push the lead to as much as 23 points late in regulation.
Portland collected 16 offensive rebounds and gained a 17-6 edge in second chance points, but could not overcome the free throw disparity and hot shooting. The Pilots also committed 13 turnovers and forced just nine.
Cal led by 16 points in the first half with 5:02 remaining, but the Pilots cut the halftime deficit to 42-32 on a pair of three-pointers by Campbell and Raivio. The Golden Bears shot 54 percent in the first period used a decisive free throw advantage to take the early lead. Cal was 11-of-15 from the stripe in the period, while Portland was just 1-of-2 at the line.
The Pilots continue their road trip with a Tuesday game at Cal State Bakersfield with a 7 p.m. tip-off. Portland concludes its non-conference schedule by hosting Seattle on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Chiles Center.
2008 Golden Bear Classic All-Tournament Team
Jerome Randle, California (Most Valuable Player)
T.J. Campbell, Portland
Luke Sikma, Portland
Anwar Johnson, Air Force
Jamal Boykin, California
Theo Robertson, California
