BERKELEY, Calif. -- Three Hornets scored in double figures, led by Brandon Gardner's career-high 19 points, but it was not enough in Sacramento State's 91-67 loss at Cal on Friday evening at Haas Pavilion.

After the Hornets took an early 12-8 lead, the Bears responded with a 17-0 run to take a 25-12 advantage and never looked back. Cal outscored Sacramento State, 47-33, in the first half, followed by 44-34 in the second half. The Bears connected on 15 3-pointers (15-38, 40%) while holding Sacramento State to 27% shooting (18-67) from the field.

Sacramento State went to the free throw line 30 times (making 24), and had a 16-9 advantage in second chance points. Of the Hornets' 43 rebounds, 18 came on the offensive glass. 

Hornet forward Jeremiah Cherry (15.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) did not play in tonight's game because of an injury he sustained Tuesday at UCLA.

Sacramento State, which was playing its fourth game in eight days, dropped to 3-4 with the loss. Sacramento State was coming off a loss to 19th-ranked UCLA on Tuesday, as the Hornets have played teams from the Big Ten and ACC this week. 

Tonight also marked the Hornets' third and final game of the Empire Classic MTE, which began with the Hornets' win on Sunday over Presbyterian, and continued with the loss to UCLA.

Cal improved to 5-1 overall, and remained perfect at home (5-0). The Hornets and Bears were playing for just the fourth time (each game in Berkeley), and Cal has won each of those contests. The two teams also played in 1950, 1992 and 2024.

Gardner's 19 points came in 22 minutes as the sophomore connected on 4-for-5 from the 3-point line. Freshman forward Mark Lavrenov played all 40 minutes and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, including 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Of Lavrenov's eight rebounds, five came on the offensive glass. Shooting guard Prophet Johnson posted his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson, who stands 6-foot-3, is averaging 15.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Mikey Williams had seven points and five assists, and has now led the team in assists in all but one game. Shaqir O'Neal had five points, Taj Glover four points and three rebounds in 10 minutes, and Jahni Summers had four points. 

Sacramento State is back in action Tuesday at home vs. San Francisco State. Tip at Hornet Pavilion is 7 p.m.

NOTABLES
• After Tuesday's game vs. San Francisco State, the Hornets will begin a season-long seven-game road trip that stretches from Nov. 29 until Jan. 10. That trip includes the Hornets' final four non-league games and first three Big Sky Conference games
• The Hornets will go 50 straight days without a home game after Tuesday's tilt vs. San Francisco State.