Cal Basketball Game Vs. Washington State: WSU's Bonton Out, but Bears Lose

Washington State was without its leading scorer, Isaac Bonton, but it did not matter, as the Cougars defeated Cal 82-51 Thursday night in Pullman, Wash.

It was the largest margin of defeat for Cal this season and came one game after the Bears’ best win, a victory over Colorado on Saturday.

Cougars guard Noah Williams led the way with a career-high 32 points, including 24 in the first half, as Washington State led by 22 points at halftime. His 32 points were one point shy of the highest point total by a Pac-12 player in conference play this season. Williams also had nine rebounds and seven assists.

Matt Bradley was not in the starting lineup for Cal because he was not feeling well, but he finished with 16 points for the Bears (8-16, 3-14 Pac-12) remained in last place in the Pac-12.

WSU improved to 13-10 overall and 6-10 in the conference.

Bonton, who is averaging 18.4 points, missed his second straight game with ankle injuries.

Pregame: This is the second meeting this season between Cal and Washington State. The Cougars won their earlier matchup 71-60 in Berkeley on Jan. 6. Cal's leading scorer, Matt Bradley, did not play in that game because of an ankle injury.

Bradley is not in the starting lineup Thursday because of illness, but he is expected to play.

Isaac Bonton, Washington State's top scorer who had 22 points in the earlier game against Cal, did not play in Monday's loss to Washington because of ankle injuries and he was not available for Thursday's game against Cal either. Dishon Jackson was not in the starting lineup for the Cougars either.

(Cal coach Mark Fox talks about Bonton in the video above.)

Cal began the day in last place in the Pac-12 with an 8-15 overall record and a 3-13 mark in the conference. Washington State came into Thursday's contest with a 12-10 overall mark, including 5-10 in the Pac-12. That put the Cougars in 10th place in the conference, three games ahead of Cal in the loss column.

After Thursday's game, Cal has three games left in the regular season before the Pac-12 tournament. The Bears play another road game Saturday against Washington, then come home for their final two games, on Thursday, Feb. 25, against Oregon State and on Saturday, Feb. 27 against Oregon.

The Pac-12 tournament is scheduled to begin March 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Click here for preview box of Thursday's game

Starting lineups:

Cal -- F Grant Anticevich, F Andre Kelly, G. Joel Brown, G Jalen Celestine, G Ryan Betley

Washington State -- G TJ Bamba, G Noah Williams, F Efe Obogidi, Aljaz Kunc, F Andrej Jakimovski

Game action:

15:54 left first half: Matt Bradley still has not entered the game. A three-pointer by Grant Anticevich and driving layup by Jalen Celestine ties the game at 7-7, with Celestine having a free throw coming up, hoping to complete a three-point play. Cal 7, Washington State 7

15;35 first half: Matt Bradley enters the game after the timeout with 15:54 to go. Cal 7, Washington State 7.

11:58 first half: Dishon Jackson has entered the game for Washington State. The Cougars are 6-for-11 from the field, including 3-for-4 on three-pointers. Cal is 4-for-6 from the floor but has committed four turnovers. Noah Williams has seven points for the Cougars. Washington State 15, Cal 10.

7:51 first half: Noah Williams has 11 points for Washington State, which rallied from a 9-7 deficit with a 14-1 run. Bradley has taken two shots and has yet to score. Andrej Jakimovski has hit two three-pointers, the second pushing the Cougars' lead to 12 points. Washington State 25, Cal 13.

3:41 first half: Bradley finally scores, hitting a three-pointer at the 7:04 mark to cut a 15-point deficit to 12. WSU made 6 of its first 7 three-point attempts. Noah Williams now has 14 points and is 3-for-3 on three-point shots. Washington State 35, Cal 21.

2:56 first half: Noah Williams hits a three to give WSU is biggest lead at 17 points, before Bradley responds with a three-pointer of his own. Washington State 38, Cal 24.

23.6 seconds first half: Noah Williams has 22 points, and his three-point play with 1:10 to go puts WSU up by 19 points. The lead grew to 20 points with 45 seconds left. Washington State 46, Cal 26.

Halftime: Washington State 48, Cal 26

Noah Williams has 24 points at halft, and his two free throws with 3.9 seconds left give the Cougars their largest lead -- 22 points. Williams, a sophomore, already has a career high in points with a full half of basketball left to play. He is 8-for-11 from the field, including 4-for-4 on three-point shots. WSU is 8-for-10 from long range as a team.

Matt Bradley leads Cal in scoring eight eight points in 13 minutes of playing time. Cal made 4 of their first 5 shots but was just 6-for-19 the rest of the half.

Second Half

15:41 second half: Williams is up to 28 points and WSU briefly gets its lead up to 25 points. Bradley has 12 points for Cal. Washington State 54, Cal 31.

14:27 second half: Bradley picks up his fourth foul with 14:27 to go and he is obviously frustrated. He has been guarding Noah Williams in the second half. Washington State 56, Cal 35.

11:52 second half: Noah Williams has 30 points. Matt Bradley on the bench with four fouls. The Cougars are outrebounding Cal 28-13. WSU has nine offensive rebounds, Cal has two. Washington State 60, Cal 40

10:33 second half: WSU has its biggest lead of the game at 26 points. Washington State 66, Cal 40.

7:57 second half: WSU pushes its lead to 31 points. Washington State 71, Cal 40.

Final: Washington State .., Cal..

Cover photo of Washington State's Dishon Jackson by James Snook, USA TODAY Sports

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