Cal aims to 'make the extra pass' vs. Cornell

Field Level Media|published: Mon 9th December, 21:27 2024

Dec 7, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) drives to the basket against Stanford Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud (42) during the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

After consecutive defeats halted all momentum from a strong start, Cal will attempt to get back on track when it plays host to Cornell on Tuesday in Berkeley, Calif.

The Golden Bears (6-3) returned to power-conference competition last week but fell 98-93 at Missouri last Tuesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge, then dropped an 89-91 decision at home to rival Stanford on Saturday in their ACC debut.

The visit from the Big Red (6-3) is the first of three more nonconference games before a return to ACC action on Jan. 1 at Pitt.

Andrej Stojakovic scored 25 points and Jovan Blacksher Jr. added 14 for Cal against Stanford. The Golden Bears trailed by 20 points with 5:37 remaining and did not record an assist in the first half, finishing the game with five.

"Our players played very hard. The effort, the energy never wavered," Cal head coach Mark Madsen said. "(But) we have to play better. We have to make the extra pass and we have to stay disciplined on defense."

Cal saw Stanford shoot 52.6 percent from the floor and 47.8 percent from 3-point range.

While Cornell does not have the same size as Stanford had against Cal, it is coming off 22 victories and an NIT berth a season ago.

After the Big Red fell to another ACC opponent, 82-72 at Syracuse on Nov. 27, they earned road victories over Colgate and Army, with the latter coming in a 103-point effort on Sunday.

Nazir Williams scored 20 points, while Cooper Noard added 17 and Jake Fiegen had 16. Cornell shot 55.9 percent from the field and 54.3 percent from 3-point range. Williams has scored 13.1 points per game, Noard has 13.0 and Fiegen has 12.9.

Cornell's quick, cutting offensive style leads to baskets inside, or long-distance shots on passes out from the post.

"Some teams cut hard but they don't play as fast as we do" Cornell head coach Jon Jaques told 90 Percent Hoops. "So (the opponent) is worried about getting back on transition defense, you're worried about the 3-point shooter who is running down and all of a sudden, you've got to worry about the cut too."

Cal and Cornell have split their two all-time matchups, but the programs have not faced each other since 1992.

--Field Level Media