GAME NOTES: A pair of 3-0 squads meet for the 2K Classic championship on Friday night, as the 10th-ranked Texas Longhorns do battle with the California Golden Bears.

Texas has posted double-digit wins in each of its first three games, topping both North Dakota State (85-50) and Alcorn State (85-53) at home, before taking down the Iowa Hawkeyes at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, 71-57.

California has also won each of its first three games rather comfortably, first beating Alcorn State (91-57) and Kennesaw State (93-59) at home, before upending No. 23 Syracuse in the Big Apple on Thursday, 73-59.

This bout marks only the fourth meeting between the Longhorns and Golden Bears on the hardwood, with the latter leading the series, 2-1.

Jonathan Holmes scored 19 points and Isaiah Taylor added 15 more to help power Texas to its win over Iowa on Thursday. Javan Felix chipped in 11 points off the bench for a team that made good on 45.8 percent of its field goal attempts, compared to only 29.6 percent for the opposition. Texas actually struggled at the outset, hitting only 32.3 percent of its total shots in the first half, but something clicked after the break as the 'Horns made good on 60.7 percent from the floor to put the game away. Other factors in the outcome included Texas dominating the action in both points in the paint (36-16), and bench points (22-10).

Taylor (15.0 ppg), Holmes (14.3 ppg) and Myles Turner (10.0 ppg) are all averaging double figures in scoring for the Longhorns here in the early going, and the team as a whole is putting up 80.3 ppg while yielding just 53.3 ppg. Texas is shooting 50.3 percent from the floor, while allowing the enemy to hit just 28.9 percent of its total shots, which includes a meager 29 percent performance from beyond the arc. The 'Horns also own a +13 rebounding margin, while handing out more than 14 apg.

California got impressive efforts from sophomores Jabari Bird and Jordan Mathews, as the duo combined for 38 points in Thursday's win over Syracuse. Mathews scored 20 of his game-high 22 points after intermission, while Bird posted 16 points thanks to a 4-of-5 showing from 3-point range. Cal shot 46.4 percent from the field, while letting the Orange connect on only 35.9 percent of their total shots, which included a poor 4-of-14 showing from beyond the arc.

For the season, Mathews leads Cal in scoring at 18.7 ppg, while Bird isn't' far off the pace at 14.3 ppg. Both averages are a significant increase from their rookie campaigns, with Mathews having the largest increase as he netted 8.5 ppg a season ago. Tyrone Wallace turns in 16.7 ppg, and David Kravish adds 10.3 ppg, and both players rank one-two on the team's rebounding list with 7.3 and 6.0 rpg, respectively. Overall, the Golden Bears are scoring 85.7 ppg while permitting only 58.3 ppg, and they are outshooting their foes 53 percent to 34.3 percent, the latter of which includes a paltry 23.1 percent effort from long range.

Both teams come in with their chests pumped out a bit as each has gotten off to a perfect start. The 'Horns probably have the better lineup from top to bottom, but the Golden Bears aren't about to go into hibernation simply because they're taking on their second straight ranked opponent. In fact, expect Cal to squeak out a close one, as its youngsters continue to impress.