OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Wayne Simien scored 17 points and Nick Collison added 16 Saturday as 19th-ranked Kansas handed California its first loss in the Pete Newell Challenge, 80-67.
The Jayhawks (7-3) proved to be too much for the Golden Bears (6-2), who had been 4-0 in this event named after their Hall of Fame Coach and were facing their first ranked opponent of the season.
Kansas took a 42-24 lead into the locker room as it dominated play inside.
Collison scored five straight points that pushed a 27-16 lead to 32-18 with 6:05 remaining in the first half and Simien had consecutive dunks midway through the second half that sparked a 16-5 spurt and increased Kansas' lead to 71-52 with 7:05 remaining.
Amit Tamir paced the Bears with 18 points and Joe Shipp, the team's leading scorer, added 17. California had a three-game winning streak stopped.
