Cal embraces ‘underdog mentality’ in commanding season opener against St. Mary’s

Golden Bears show grit and determination in convincing win

Cal’s season opener against St. Mary’s was a tale of two halves, with the underdog Bears coming out on top in a convincing fashion.

After trailing by 10 points at the half, Cal rallied in the second half to outscore the Gaels by 19 points and secure a 77-66 victory. The Bears were led by freshman guard Jaylen Brown, who scored a game-high 22 points. Brown was efficient from the field, shooting 8-of-12, and also added 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Senior forward Ivan Rabb also had a strong performance for Cal, finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. Rabb was a force on the boards, helping the Bears outrebound the Gaels 43-33. Cal’s defense was also impressive in the second half, holding St. Mary’s to just 29% shooting from the field. The Bears forced 10 turnovers in the second half and also blocked 4 shots. The win was a good start to the season for Cal, who is looking to make a run in the NCAA Tournament this year. The Bears will be back in action on Friday when they host Long Beach State.