Mike Montgomery understood why his team had a tough time matching its first-half energy over the final 20 minutes considering California had already built a 27-point lead. "It's probably human nature, you're up 27 and don't have that same intensity," Montgomery said. "We've been a little bit lax." Jorge Gutierrez had 14 points, six rebounds and three assists and the Golden Bears (No. 22 ESPN/USA Today, No. 23 AP) jumped out to a comfortable early cushion on the way to a 72-55 rout of cold-shooting Austin Peay on Tuesday night.
