Cal Bears -Montgomery get Pac-12 win

[Proud Griz Man]

California beats USC 53-49 in Pac-12 opener
By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer Posted: 12/29/2011 08:24:01 PM PST


BERKELEY, Calif.—Allen Crabbe controlled the ball, stole a quick glance at the expiring shot clock and tossed up a prayer. He got fouled, and how fortunate that his feet were behind the 3-point line.
Crabbe converted all three free throws with 8.4 seconds left as California earned a hard-fought 53-49 victory over Southern California on Thursday night in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.
Crabbe retrieved the rebound after USC 7-footer Dewayne Dedmon blocked Jorge Gutierrez's layup attempt. Crabbe was fouled by Eric Strangis on the left side of the 3-point arc as he heaved the ball up with the shot clock expiring. "I just knew he blocked the shot, and it came right to me. I just threw it up, I didn't even know they called a foul on him," Crabbe said. "There was a second left. I just caught it and looked at the shot clock." Cal didn't count on it being so close at the end after leading by 16 points with 13:36 to play. Gutierrez had 13 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and four steals and Harper Kamp and Crabbe added 12 points apiece for the Golden Bears (11-3, 1-0), who shot 46.7 percent and improved to 10-0 on its home floor in Haas Pavilion this season by holding off Maurice Jones. Jones scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half and knocked

LOS ANGELES - Saying that he has a clean bill of health, Cal basketball coach Mike Montgomery revealed to reporters at Pac-12 Basketball Media Day Friday that his recent surgery was for high-grade bladder cancer. However, he is now back at practice and said he is looking forward to the upcoming season.
Montgomery's Golden Bears were picked to finish second in the league behind UCLA in a vote of West Coast media. Cal, which is ranked 24th in both the Associated Press and ESPN Coaches polls, received 13 first-place votes and a total of 405 points. UCLA had 14 first-place votes and 421 points. Arizona (11 first-place votes) was predicted to finish third (404 points), followed by Washington, Oregon and Stanford. Fans have an opportunity to see the Bears at a free, open practice scheduled to start at 12 noon Sunday in Haas Pavilion. Cal's hosts UC San Diego in an exhibition game Nov. 1 and begins the regular season at home against UC Irvine Nov. 11.

"It's scary," Montgomery said of the cancer diagnosis. "Anybody that's been through it or had something, you go from being relatively on top of your game and being in charge of everything, to no longer being in charge. It could have gone the other way. But, again, I was extremely fortunate it went the way it did, so we're good to go." Montgomery said the cancer was detected about a month ago, and he underwent surgery to remove the tumor last week, leaving his assistant coaches in charge of the team and practices. He began to return to the office earlier this week and has no limitations moving forward. Montgomery said he expects to be on the floor full time starting Monday. "Essentially, I went from having high-grade bladder cancer a month ago to being totally cancer free at this juncture," Montgomery said. "I'm a hundred percent good to go now," he added. "Just so you know perspective-wise, (my doctor) said, three months ago we wouldn't have found this, six months from now you'd be done. So the timing couldn't have been better. So if you've got an ache or a pain, get checked."