The Runnin’ Rebels jumped out to fast start with an 8-0 run in the first 3 minutes of the game. The Bears answered behind some deep shooting by Matt Bradley and Joel Brown. By the first media time out the Bears would fight back to make it 12-13. Cal would take the lead 19-17 by the 10 minute mark. UNLV would then take the lead back 23-21 by the 7:30 mark. The game would go back and forth to the end of the half, with the Rebels leading 40-38 into halftime. The Bears were led by a blistering 15 points on 6-11 shooting with 3-6 from beyond the arc.