Cal Tops Frogs in Basketball Season Opener, 91-83
2/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) (Nov. 18) -- Freshman Joe Shipp scored 11 points at the end of the first half to pull California out of a hole, and the Golden Bears dominated inside to beat TCU, 91-83, Thursday in the opening round of the Top of the World Classic.
Shipp and center Nick Vander Laan both finished with 20 points for California (1-0).
The Bears took advantage of superior size inside to maintain their lead in the second half, feeding the ball to Vander Laan. When TCU tried to collapse in the paint, guard Donte Smith and Shantay Legans punished them with 3-point baskets.
The Horned Frogs (0-1) jumped out to an early lead as forward Marquise Gainous scored 10 points in the first nine minutes. Then an 8-point run with about four minutes to play in the period put TCU in front 36-29. Gainous scored 17 of his team-high 18 points in the first period.
Shipp led the bears back to take the lead 43-41 at halftime. He sank back-to-back 3-pointers and converting a three-point play to tie the game 38-38, then followed with a slam-dunk to give the bears the lead.
