Crabbe Sparks California Past Jackson State 73-46
BERKELEY (CBS/AP) -- Allen Crabbe came off the bench to score 17 points, Jorge Gutierrez added seven points and 10 assists and California pulled away in the second half to beat Jackson State 73-46 on Sunday.
Crabbe, the Golden Bears' leading scorer, did not start for the first time this year after being late for the team's morning shootaround but finished in double figures for the fifth straight game and the seventh time this season. He went 7 of 13 from the floor and added five rebounds and three assists.
Cal (8-2), which has won two straight since falling out of the Top 25, trailed early, led by 12 at halftime and pulled away after the break.
Jenirro Bush had 16 points and six rebounds for Jackson State (1-8), which has lost four straight. The Tigers matched the Bears' quickness but shot just 34 percent from the floor.
Crabbe sat out the first five minutes of the game and got off to a slow start before leaping high over teammate David Kravish to tip in a missed 3-point attempt by Emerson Murray. Crabbe made a 3-pointer to help spark a burst just before halftime, then had nine points and an assist during a 16-2 run in the second half to help the Bears take a 51-30 lead.
Coach Mike Montgomery's team coasted from there, getting a 10 points off the bench from seldom-used Bak Bak.
Justin Cobbs added nine points and six assists for the Bears.
The loss was the fourth straight for Jackson State, which is on a six-game road trip. The Tigers were playing for the first time since falling to No. 21 Memphis 70-45 on Nov. 28, their fourth loss to a Top 25 team this season.
They didn't get a break against Cal, either. The Bears, who dropped out of the rankings after losing to San Diego State on Dec. 4, forced 16 turnovers and outrebounded Jackson State 33-23.
Kelsey Howard had 11 points for the Tigers, who stay in Northern California to play Saint Mary's on Monday.
Richard Solomon, Crabbe's roommate who was also late for the shootaround, came off the bench to spark a Cal run that gave the Bears a 31-19 lead at the break.
Playing for the first time since being suspended for two games by Montgomery for conduct contrary to athletic department values, Solomon had four points, including an emphatic two-handed dunk, during a 9-0 run for the Bears.
Jackson State's other losses to Top 25 teams were against No. 2 Ohio State, No. 6 Baylor and No. 12 Florida.
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