BERKELEY -- Ivan Rabb has posted a double-double in all three games he's played this season, but after Cal's 67-55 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday, the sophomore forward said he still hasn't found his comfort zone.
"Honestly it's still a little rough," said Rabb, an AP preseason All-American, who missed more than a month of practice time and the season's first two games with a toe injury. "I missed a lot of shots I normally make. My teammates tell me, `Don't get frustrated, keep your head up." Rabb had 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Lions.
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Charlie Moore scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half to set the tone and led the Bears (4-1) in scoring for the third time in the past four games. Moore, who entered the game as the Pac-12 Conference's No. 3 scorer averaging 19.8 points, made 4 of 6 from the 3-point arc.
"Gosh, he's got such a great future," Southeastern Louisiana coach Jay Ladner said of Moore. "He was really the difference in the game."
Grant Mullins added 13 points and Kingsley Okoroh had 10 points and nine rebounds for Cal.
Davon Hayes led Southeastern Louisiana (4-3) with 11 points. Moses Greenwood added 10 points.
Rabb returned to Cal after being projected as an NBA lottery pick, and through three games is averaging 16 points and 10.3 rebounds. But his game still appears a bit ragged.
"I've had very limited practices," Rabb said. "When you try to practice a few times and go and play, it's night and day. The games are a lot faster. But I'm starting to get into a groove and my conditioning is getting little better."
Cal coach Cuonzo Martin said Rabb's uneven play is understandable. "You miss that kind of time, you're a step slow," he said. "My thing is defend, rebound and play hard. The scoring will come."
Southeastern Louisiana was in a hole from the start. Guard Marlain Veal picked up three fouls in a span of 11 seconds and Cal led 11-1. Veal, coming off a 20-point game at Colorado State, scored just two points before fouling out.
For the second straight game, Cal led by 20 points in the second half then allowed its opponent to cut the margin to single digits. This time, the Bears missed 10 straight shots and the Lions pulled within 48-39 with 10 minutes left.
"I thought we played great in the second half. We made a game out of it," Ladner said. "We got a little discombobulated there when Veal picked up three quick fouls to start the game. It took a while for us to get settled down."
BIG PICTURE
Cal: The Bears will be without junior center Kameron Rooks indefinitely after he injured his left knee Friday against Wyoming. Rooks, who started two of Cal's first four games, was averaging 6.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. He is scheduled to undergo further tests.
Rooks joins senior guard Jabari Bird on the shelf. Bird, a former McDonald's All-American, scored 14 points in Cal's opener but has missed the past four games with back spasms. The timetable for his return is uncertain.
Southeastern Louisiana: Turnovers have been a thorn for the Lions. They entered play Sunday tied for 263rd nationally at 17.2 turnovers per game, and they had three against Cal before scoring their first field goal. Southeastern finished with 16 giveaways.
UP NEXT
Cal plays its fourth game in a five-game homestand on Wednesday against Louisiana Tech (3-2), whose two defeats this season were on the road to South Carolina and Nebraska.
Having completed a three-game road trip through Texas, Colorado and California, Southeastern Louisiana returns home to play Wednesday against Maryland-Eastern Shore (0-6), which is playing its sixth road game in seven.