NEW YORK (AP) - Coach Shaka Smart wanted to see No. 22 Texas rebound after giving up a season-high 82 points in a loss to Georgetown the night before. The Longhorns responded, holding California to a season low.
Matt Coleman III scored 14 points, Jericho Sims had 12 points and nine rebounds and Texas beat California 62-45 on Friday night in the 2K Empire Classic consolation game.
“Today we responded from that loss last night,” Jerricho Sims said. “Thankfully, we got to play in less than 24 hours. I learned that we’re a gritty team and we just got to keep the strong identity.”
They played in front of a sparse crowd, with Madison Square Garden only beginning to fill up late for the championship game between No. 1 Duke and Georgetown.
Texas (5-1) never trailed, with Cal (4-2) tying it just once at 21 on Matt Bradley’s free throws.
The Longhorns led 25-21 at the half and took a 13-point advantage on Kai Jones’ put-back dunk with 12:35 left. A put-back dunk by Jericho Sims to made it 51-38 with 5:48 left.
“It was huge,” Smart said about Sims’ play. “I just thought his aggressiveness was at a high level and he played within himself he finished really, really well. Even took the ball from people a couple times and I thought he was really solid on the defensive end.”
Jase Febres added 12 points for Texas.
Bradley led Cal with 22 points.
“I would say that to play two nationally ranked teams this early in a season where we’re rebuilding is probably an earlier test than maybe would be ideal,” first-year Cal coach Mark Fox said. “But we’ll use it hopefully as a great lesson in how we have to grow and change and improve. If we use it the right way, this weekend can be very productive for us.”
3-POINT STRUGGLES
Cal was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
“It’s our fourth game in eight days, our second game in under 24 hours, I didn’t feel like today would be a good 3-point shooting day for either team,” Fox said. “I think we anticipated it would probably be a game where 3s are hard to come by. And they were for us.”
2K EMPIRE CLASSIC REMATCH
The last time the teams played each other, Texas beat Cal 71-55 in the 2K Classic Championship game at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 21, 2014.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
With the loss to Georgetown, Texas likely cost itself its spot in the Top 25. However, with the win over Cal, the Longhorns should still be receiving votes.
BIG PICTURE
Texas: The Longhorns bounced back from their first loss of the season with a win over a Power Five opponent before a week off.
California: The Golden Bears have lost back-to-back games after starting the season 4-0.
UP NEXT
Texas: Hosts McNeese State on Nov. 30.
California: Hosts UC Davis on Tuesday night.
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