Dec. 9, 2009

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Playing at the Stockton Arena, Pacific's first home game away from the Alex G. Spanos Center since 1981, the Tigers fell 79-54 to California on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

With the loss, Pacific fell to 6-2 on the year while Cal improved to 6-3. The game was played at Stockton Arena in front of 8,704 fans. It is the first time the Tigers have played a regular season home game in downtown Stockton since 1981. The near sellout crowd was the largest home crowd in Pacific history.

The Tigers fell behind early, as the Bears took a 15-7 lead with 15:13 to play in the half after five early points from Jerome Randle. The Bears led 31-15 with 5:02 to play in the half, before the Tigers used a 7-2 run to cut it back to an 11 point game (33-22) with 3:38 to go. Cal hit 5-of-7 three-pointers in the first half, including three three-pointers by Randle to build a 14 point halftime lead (41-27). Senior Michael Nunally (Stockton, Calilf.) led the Tigers with 12 points in the first half, while junior Royal Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.) hit a pair of three-pointers in the first 20 minutes to score a career-high six points.

Cal extended its lead in the opening minutes of the second half, using an 8-0 run to take a 49-27 lead with 17:55 to play in the game. Pacific responded with a 6-2 run, getting a three point play from Nunnally and a three-pointer from junior Pat Eveland (San Diego, Calif.) to cut it to 51-33 with 16:34 to go. The Bears took the lead back to 20 (53-33) after a tip-in by Patrick Christopher, and the lead didn't fall below 19 the rest of the way.

Nunnally scored 16 points to lead the Tigers, the only Pacific player to score in double figures. Christopher had 22 points to lead the Bears.

The Tigers are next in action with home game against Sacramento State on Saturday, Dec. 12. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Spanos Center.