Cal beats Washington St 66-57 to snap 4 game losing streak
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Paris Austin scored 19 points and Andre Kelly added 16 to lead California to a 66-57 victory over Washington State on Wednesday night.
Austin went just 3 of 8 from the field but was 12 of 12 from the charity stripe. Kelly was 8-of-11 shooting.
Matt Bradley scored 11 points for California (11-15, 5-8 Pac-12), which snapped a four-game losing streak with its first Pac-12 road victory of the season.
Washington State (14-13, 5-9 Pac 12) struggled to find good looks at the basket without starting point guard Isaac Bonton, who suffered a leg injury in the Cougars 86-83 overtime loss against UCLA last week.
After shooting 29% in their last matchup against USC without Bonton, including 2 of 26 from 3-point range, Washington State shot 30% against the Golden Bears, going 5 of 23 from beyond the arc. Leading scorer CJ Elleby, who averages 18.7 points per game, was held 13 points on 4 of 18 shooting. Tony Miller led the way for the Cougars with 18 points.
Washington State has now lost three in a row for the first time this season.
The Golden Bears jumped out to an 30-13 lead late in the first half as the Cougars struggled to make a basket, shooting just 27% from the field including 1 of 11 from 3-point range. At the break California was up 32-20.
The Cougars cut the Golden Bear lead to 60-54 with under two minutes to play after Miller scored a quick seven points, however, it was to little to late. Austin made six shots from the free throw line to close out the Cougars.
BIG PICTURE
California: The Golden Bears snap a four-game losing streak with the victory and sweep the Cougars this season.
Washington State: The Cougars continue to struggle making baskets without Bonton in the lineup and have now lost three in a row for the first time this season. Bonton hopes to return for the Stanford matchup this weekend.
UP NEXT
California: The Golden Bears play at Washington on Saturday.
Washington State: The Cougars host Stanford on Sunday
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