BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) Calvin Hermanson scored 22 points with four 3-pointers and Saint Mary’s beat California 74-63 on Saturday night to end a two-game losing streak.
Jordan Ford added a career-high 17 points and six rebounds, Emmett Naar had 13 points and eight assists and Jock Landale scored 13 points with six rebounds for the Gaels (6-2).
Saint Mary’s had one of its best offensive games of the season to bounce back after falling out of the Top 25 following back-to-back losses to Washington State and Georgia.
The Gaels did it on a night when their leading scorer, Landale, wasn’t much of a factor. Landale shot 5 of 8 but had trouble in the paint against Cal’s two big men, 7-foot-1 center Kingsley Okoroh and 6-11 forward Marcus Lee.
Ford helped pick up the slack on both ends of the floor. The Saint Mary’s sophomore held Darius McNeill to a season-low three points after he reached double figures in his previous five games.
It was only the second game between the two Northern California schools in the last 12 years.
Lee scored a career-high 23 points and Nick Hamilton added 16 for the Golden Bears (3-5). Cal, which never led, has dropped four of five.
Saint Mary’s pulled away with a 17-6 run late in the first half and was ahead by double digits most of the way until California made a brief run late in the second half.
Lee scored to cut the gap to 65-55, but Naar made a deep 3-pointer and the Gaels made six consecutive free throws to close it out.
BIG PICTURE
Saint Mary’s: The Gaels weren’t reeling after getting knocked out of the rankings, but they needed a game to feel good about and this was it. The fact that they won without much from Landale has to make coach Randy Bennett feel good. Ford was the X-factor in many ways and gave Saint Mary’s defense a much-needed lift along the way.
California: The Bears had some success early with their half-court trap, an encouraging sign for a team that has not been sharp defensively much of the year. Another bright spot was Lee, who shot 10 of 14 from the floor and was aggressive much of the night. The big difference was at the free-throw line. Saint Mary’s went 18 of 21 from the stripe, while Cal was just 6 of 11.
UP NEXT
Saint Mary’s: Begins a six-game homestand Monday against Sacramento State.
California: The Bears host Central Arkansas on Wednesday.
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