When the Cal men's basketball team starts season play in the 2K Sports Classic, committing 16 turnovers will probably matter.

But in Thursday's 84-42 exhibition rout of Chico State at Haas Pavilion, it didn't make a difference, as the Bears' defense more than made up for any offensive rust.

"I really liked the defensive intensity," said senior guard Patrick Christopher, who was one of four Cal players with a pair of steals, in addition to scoring a game-high 16 points.

Cal turned 25 Wildcats' turnovers into 31 points and limited the visitors to 28.6-percent shooting, including just 3-of-18 from the three-point line. Chico State didn't help its own offensive struggles by missing all five of its first-half free throws, as the Bears coasted to a 48-20 point lead at the break.

Despite playing without forward Harper Kamp, who is still working back from knee surgery, Cal out-rebounded the Wildcats, 49-31, with Jamal Boykin grabbing 12 to lead all players. Junior Markhuri Sanders-Frison chipped in with nine boards in his debut for the team at center.

"(Sanders-Frison) is a great defender," Christopher said. "You know he wants it, and you can see it in his eyes."

Sophomore Max Zhang also contributed to the stout defensive effort, recording three of the team's five blocks in the game.

But despite shutting down the Wildcats, the Bears certainly didn't have their cleanest offensive performance, as Jerome Randle and Theo Robertson each turned the ball over four times in the first 20 minutes.

"Chico State did a nice job," Cal coach Mike Montgomery said. "They caused us more problems than I'd like ... We need to be able to handle (their) pressure."

While Zhang and Sanders-Frison both made their presences felt on the defensive end, they combined for just seven points on two-for-eight shooting.

"We're going to have to help that position a little bit until Harper gets back," Montgomery said. "We got to finish inside."

Of course, the Bears had little trouble finishing the game, as they played with all reserves for much of the second half. Sophomore Jorge Gutierrez, who scored on a runner at the first-half horn, was the only other Cal player in double figures, as he scored 11 points and dished out three assists. His performance helped the Bears' bench outscore the entire Wildcats' team, 43-42, but the guard suffered an ankle sprain with just over a minute left to play.

After the game, Montgomery said Kamp will not play in Monday's season opener against Murray State and offered no timetable for the junior's return.

Tags: CAL MEN'S BASKETBALL, PATRICK CHRISTOPHER, JEROME RANDLE, MIKE MONTGOMERY