Category: Cal Bears

CAL Berkeley off to 3-0 start after defeating CSU Fullerton, 93-65

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California Golden Bear Rytis Petraitis, takes it to the paint on an acrobat layup against, CSU Titan Landon Seaman. (Photo Credit to Sports Radio Services Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY, Calif. – The California Golden Bears entered Monday night’s game at Haas Pavilion looking to keep their undefeated streak going. The Bears entered 2-0 after a win over Wright State, while the Titans arrived following a 92-82 loss to Wyoming only two days earlier.

California used the same starting lineup of Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden, Chris Bell, and Lee Dort. Ames, who led the Golden Bears in scoring early this season with 20.5 points per game, continued to set the offensive tone as Cal worked to extend its unbeaten streak. Cal’s head coach, Mark Madsen, entered and left the game, recording his 100th career win as a head coach.

Cal State Fullerton’s starting lineup was Davis White, Joshua Ward, Bailey Nunn, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, and Kendrick De Luna. The Titans were coming off a 92-82 loss to Wyoming two days prior, with Bryce Cofield leading the way with 21 points. Although Cofield did not start in the matchup against Berkeley. The Titans are 0-2 all-time against Cal and have played them only on the road.

California took no time in setting the tone, coming out firing from beyond the arc. The Golden Bears took an early 12-7 lead over Cal State Fullerton by hitting four straight three-pointers. Dai Dai Ames caught fire right on, shooting three triples in the first three minutes, while John Camden added five points of his own to fuel Cal’s fast start.

Ames and Camden combined for all 19 of Cal’s points in the first 10 minutes, with Ames scoring 11 and Camden scoring eight, creating confidence across the Bears’ roster. Justin Pippen led the attack with four assists, while Lee Dort battled inside on the glass, allowing Cal to keep control.

In the closing ten minutes of the first half, both sides tightened up defensively, but Cal’s ball movement kept them efficient. Despite Fullerton’s pressure, the Bears shot 6-for-11 from three-point range (54.5 percent). The Titans relied on transition opportunities, with Joshua Ward scoring six points on fast breaks to close the gap to eight points at one point.

Bryce Cofield had a flagrant one penalty for an elbow during a drive, stopping Fullerton’s momentum. Cal missed four consecutive baskets in the final two minutes, but dominated the boards and maintained defensive discipline, securing a 42-27 halftime lead.

The Bears went into the locker room with Dai Dai Ames leading the way with 13 points, establishing the tone for the second half.

Cal State Fullerton came from the locker room with the same energy that California had displayed earlier in the game. The Titans went on a 6-0 run to start the half, hoping to reduce the Bears’ halftime lead.

Berkeley, on the other hand, responded fast, establishing a rhythm from the start. The Golden Bears connected on two more sets of three-pointers, slowing Fullerton’s momentum and regaining control of the game. Within the first three minutes, California led 50-38.

Cal ended up having a lead of 67-46 before the halfway point of the second half, thanks to hustle, defensive effort, and balanced scoring.

Dai Dai Ames led the way with 19 points, John Camden added 14, and Justin Pippen had 10 points and 5 assists. Lee Dort and Chris Bell controlled the boards, grabbing 7 and 5 rebounds, respectively, limiting Fullerton’s second-chance opportunities.

The last stretch showed which squad was determined to finish strong. California refused to let up, playing with intensity on both ends of the floor. The Golden Bears increased their lead to 29 points, capitalizing on Fullerton’s troubles from the field.

The Titans struggled to find their rhythm, ending their shooting 27-for-69 (39%), while Berkeley capitalized on turnovers and lack of effort. Chris Bell was especially good at clearing the glass and forcing turnovers while also contributing to the Bears’ scoring surge as the fourth player to reach double digits.

Ames’ three-point shooting was the night’s highlight, going 6-for-7 (85.7%), while Justin Pippen nearly had a triple-double with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, displaying his leadership on both sides of the court. Almost the whole starting five scored in double figures, showcasing Cal’s balanced and overpowering offensive performance.

With this dominant victory, the Golden Bears improved to 3-0 on the season while also marking Mark Madsen’s 100th career win as a head coach, a milestone in a program that is off to a good start. This is also Mark Madsen’s first 3-0 start at UC Berkeley.

The final attendance at Haas Pavilion was 2,377 as the Golden Bears secured a dominating home win. California now prepares for its first road game of the season, going to Manhattan, Kansas, to face Kansas State University (2-0).

Head coach Mark Madsen expressed excitement for the game during his post-game conference, stating he’s looking forward to “the battle and the test” and couldn’t wait to see what the Bears can do against a great Kansas State squad. The two teams will face off on Thursday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m.

With an outstanding 93-65 victory over Cal State Fullerton and a perfect 3-0 start, Berkeley will aim to create energy as they faces one of the premier Big 12 programs early in the season.

Cal withstands late Wright State push for 77-67 home win

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Cal Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) drives past Wright State’s Kellen Pickett (4) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thu Nov 6, 2025 (Cal Bears photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

BERKELEY, Calif. — California (2-0) men’s basketball secured its second home victory of the season Wednesday night, defeating Wright State Raiders (1-1) 77–67 at Haas Pavilion. The Bears used an early second-half surge and steady free-throw shooting to fend off a late rally from the Raiders.

After a slow offensive start from both sides with Cal shooting 4-for-12 and Wright State 4-for-11 from the field early, the Bears built momentum behind second chance points and dominance at the free throw line. Cal finished the first half shooting 13 for 34 overall but made up ground by converting 13 free throws.

Wright State, meanwhile, struggled from the line, going just 4 for 8, but found more success from deep, connecting on four of 16 three-pointers to stay within reach. Neither team managed to create much separation through the opening 20 minutes, with Cal holding a slim 34–28 halftime advantage.

John Camden led the Bears with seven points at the break, while Wright State’s Michael Cooper matched that total to lead the Raiders.

Cal came out firing in the second half, pushing its lead to double digits with a 12 point margin midway through the half. The Bears played with rhythm and confidence, feeding off an energized Haas Pavilion crowd. Sophomore guard Dai Dai Ames took control down the stretch, finishing with a game high 23 points.

Despite trailing by as many as 16, Wright State refused to fold, closing the gap to four with under five minutes to play. But Cal’s composure and efficiency from the line sealed the victory — the Bears shot 26 for 31 (83.9%) from the stripe compared to Wright State’s 10 for 18 (55.6%).

“We talked about ball control and not being passive,” Cal head coach Mark Madsen told Sports Radio Service after the game. “Against any zone defense, if you drive the zone, something good is going to happen. We have a lot of new players still getting comfortable in their roles, but I thought Nolan Dorsey really set the tone defensively and lifted the whole team.”

Cal out rebounded Wright State 43–35 and outscored the Raiders 34–22 in the paint. The Bears also held advantages in fast-break points (12–4) and defensive rebounds (33–24).

Wright State’s Dominic Pagonis led the Raiders with 11 points off the bench.

With the win, Cal improves to 2–0 and looks to carry its momentum into the next contest against Cal State Fullerton as it continues non conference play.

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips: Cal runs into hot Louisville; Cardinals have won 5 of last 6 games; Cal has lost four last six games

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Cal Bears quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele is sacked by the Virginia Cavaliers defensive lineman Jacob Holmes (23) at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Nov 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 How will freshman Cal Bears (5-4) quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele, who has thrown for over 200 yards in every game this season, adjust to facing the Louisville Cardinals (7-1) defense that ranks 11th nationally in yards allowed?

#2 With the Bears averaging just about 78.6 rushing yards per game (second-lowest among FBS teams), how critical will it be for running back Kendrick Raphael to break off big runs and relieve pressure on the passing game?

#3 On defense, Cal’s veteran linemen Aidan Keanaaina and T.J. Bollers have formed a strong front — how will they perform against Louisville’s run game, especially with the Cardinals dealing with backfield injuries.

#4 Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus leads Cal with 57 catches this season—is his connection with Sagapolutele their most viable path to moving the chains and keeping the Bears competitive in this matchup?

#5 Considering that Cal’s pass defense and secondary have been tested, how vital will it be for cornerback/safety combination including players like Austin career-high six pass breakups to lock down the Cardinals’ passing attack and limit big plays?

Morris Phillips is a Cal Bears beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman: Cal delivers lopsided win over CSU Bakersfield Monday night

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The Cal Bears Lee Dort (34) gets the throw down against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners on Mon Nov 3, 2025 at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley (Cal Bears photo)

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Stephen Cal had the lead for much of this game it was a great way for the Golden Bears to open the season with the win.

#2 The Bears dominated the Roadrunners as Bakersfield just couldn’t get back in the game and were behind for most of the night by 20 points or less.

#3 Cal Bears high scorer Dai Dai Ames had some good looks in the game and was one of the four starters who finished this game in double figures.

#4 The Bears John Camden finished second in scoring he got some open shots and led Cal in three pointers.

#5 Up next for Cal they tip off against Wright State right here at the Pavilion this Thu Nov 6th after taking a look at tonight’s offense against Bakersfield they should match up well in their next non conference.

Stephen Ruderman is a Cal Bears beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bears open season with 87-60 route of CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners

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Cal Bears guard Justin Pippin finished with 15 points against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Mon Nov 3, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

Monday, Nov. 3, 2025

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 60 (0-1)

California Golden Bears 86 (1-0)

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–The Bears opened their season with a dominant 87-60 win over the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners in what was the team’s 300th win in their history Haas Pavilion.

Newcomer John Camden led the scoring with 22 points. Dai Dai Ames followed Camden with 18 points, and Justin Pippen and Lee Dort both scored 15.

There was once again massive turnover over the off-season, as Stephon Marbury II, Rytis Petraitis and Lee Dort are the only three players from last season to return this season. Here’s an interesting tidbit. With the departure of Andrej Stojakovic, Peja Stojakovic’s son, the Bears got another son of a longtime NBA player in Justin Pippen, the son of six-time NBA champion and seven-time NBA all-star Scottie Pippen.

However, Head Coach Mark Madsen is here for his third season with the club, following a pair of subpar seasons in his first two seasons. You actually have to hand it to Madsen, who inherited a team that went a miserable 3-29 in the 2022-2023 season. 13-19 and 14-19 are not exactly the best seasons, but they were vast improvements over the season prior to Madsen’s arrival, and he played a big role in the team’s improvement.

The Bears would open up at home against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners for the second year in a row. This was the third-straight season in which the Bears played the Roadrunners. The Bears won their matchups against the Roadrunners in each of the last two seasons, and it was obvious from the onset that tonight would be no different.

Cal got off to a quick 10-0 start, but for whatever reason, they just sputtered in the middle part of the first half. Camden started the scoring with a three-ball just 13 seconds in. Ames, Dort and Pippen also contributed to the Bears’ 10-0 start. In fact, those four combined to score 70 of the Bears’ 87 points.

The Bears then stumbled in the middle minutes of the first half, as the Roadrunners went on a 16-8 run to cut Cal’s lead to 18-16. However, the Bears finally regained their momentum in the latter part of the first half, and went into halftime up 37-26.

In the second half, the Bears put the game away, and there was literally no real drama. Though to give both teams credit, despite the Bears’ 27-point win, both teams played their hearts out until the very-last second.

The Bears win their opener for the third year in a row.

The Bears will be rewarded for the rigorous ACC travel schedule with 12 of their first 13 games being in the Bay Area.

Cal will take on the Wright State Raiders in their second game of the season Thursday night here at Haas Pavilion. For those of you wondering, Wright State is in Fairborn, Ohio. Tipoff will be at 7 p.m.

No. 15 Virginia Makes Key Plays in 31-21 Win Over Cal

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–Saturday in the ACC was a day of surprises and upheaval. Steady Virginia again stubbornly refused to be part of the drama.

Playing another tight, tense game, the No. 15 Cavaliers extended their win streak to seven by beating host Cal, 31-21 with a late fourth quarter finish. The win gave Virginia their longest win streak since 2007 and left Cal one win short of bowl eligibility with three games remaining.

“This is go time,” UVA coach Tony Elliott said. “This is where we got to be trying to to prime up and get rolling on all cylinders. It was important for them to get off to a fast start and put together some drives and score some points.”

Elliott’s group took a 10-0, first quarter lead, scoring on their first, two possessions and held on as Cal sliced their lead to a field goal on three occasions. Chandler Morris, who threw for 262 yards, and J’Mari Taylor with 105 yards rushing led Virginia offensively without committing any damaging mistakes.

Cal got outplayed up front on both sides of the ball, committed the game’s only two turnovers, and were unable to overcome an 80-57 disparity in the number of offensive plays each team ran.

“We were never able to capture that momentum,” coach Justin Wilcox said. “The play count gets out of whack. And ultimately that cost us the ballgame.”

Cade Uluave, Cal’s leading tackler and defensive leader departed early with a hand injury. His replacement, Aaron Hampton and defensive tackle Aidan Keanaaina were exemplary in Uluave’s absence, but couldn’t force the visitors out of their comfort zone.

Cal’s offense again was too one-dimensional as the running game wilted and quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele simply couldn’t be flawless and lead the Bears from behind. With Cal trailing 24-21 in the game’s final minute, Sagapolutele threw his second interception, and it was returned 35 yards for a game-sealing touchdown by Kam Robinson.

“On defense it was the third downs, offense we had a couple we didn’t quite connect on,” Wilcox said. “Ultimately against a team like that, you have to make those and we didn’t do that.”

Kendrick Raphael had a frustrating afternoon as Cal’s leading rusher scored three touchdowns, but was held under 50 yards on the ground. Raphael’s high point was being on the receiving end of tight end Mason Mini’s 42-yard touchdown pass that cut Virginia’s lead to 17-14 after halftime.

The Bears visit Louisville next Saturday with the Cardinal in the thick of the conference’s championship game chase after the ACC’s two teams with Top Ten rankings, Georgia Tech and Miami, fell in upsets. The Bears have lost two straight after starting the season 5-2.

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips: Red hot Virginia kicks off with Cal Saturday at UC Berkeley

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Cal Bears wide receiver Jordan King (4) gets by Virginia Tech Hokies safety Tyson Flowers (11) in the first half at Blacksburg VA on Fri Oct 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:

#1With freshman quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele under center for Cal, how will his ability to stretch the field and make quick reads affect Virginia’s secondary?

#2 Senior linebacker and team captain Cade Uluave anchors Cal’s defense — in what ways must he rise to meet Virginia’s physical run game and tight-end threats?

#3 Cal’s wide receiver corps includes Jacob De Jesus and QuaRon Adams — can these playmakers create separation and force Virginia’s defensive backs to commit early, thus opening up space for the Bears?

#4 Running back Kendrick Raphael is relied on to keep Cal’s offense balanced; how critical will his production be in setting up the pass and controlling tempo against Virginia’s front seven?

#5 On defense, Cal’s interior line includes players like Aidan Keanaaina and T.J. Bollers — how well can they generate pressure and disrupt Virginia’s offensive rhythm, especially on third-down situations?

Join Morris Phillips for the Cal Bears football podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips: Can Cal take advantage of a struggling Hokies team Friday?

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Cal Bears running back Kendrick Raphael takes the ball over the goal line for a touchdown against the UNC Tar Heels on Fri Oct 17, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley (East Bay Times photo)

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 How will Cal’s (5-2) offense — led by Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele — fare against Virginia Tech’s (2-6) defense, especially given his freshman status and the expectation on him?

#2 Will Kendrick Raphael’s rushing attack be able to make a difference and relieve pressure from the passing game?

#3 How significant will the role of Jacob De Jesus, Mason Mini and Trond Grizzell be in Cal’s passing/receiving game plan?

#4 Can Cal’s defense hold up against Virginia Tech’s offense — especially in key situations like third downs or the red zone?

#5 What impact might turnovers or special teams play have on the outcome of the game (for example, Cal’s return game via De Jesus, or Cal’s ability to force/exploit turnovers)?

Morris Phillips does the Cal Bears podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Austin’s Game-Saving Strip Allows Cal To Outlast North Carolina in 21-18 Win

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–This was a football game where the Cal Bears could overcome a bunch of damaging mistakes with one, brilliant, timely play.  Brent Austin made that play, and Cal survived, beating North Carolina 21-18 on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

With less than 4 minutes remaining, and UNC’s Nathan Leacock steaming toward the end zone with the go-ahead touchdown, Austin stripped Leacock at the one-yard line, and recovered the ball in the end zone for a turnover. The Bears then drained the remaining clock of all but six seconds to secure the win.

That’s as good an individual play as we’ve had this season,” coach Justin Wilcox said. “It was an unbelievable play.”

Wilcox didn’t like as much as he did like from his team as they lead throughout but suffered from too many dropped passes, and not enough physicality to counter the Tar Heels’ run game. But the Bears (5-2, 2-1 in the ACC) pulled through to remain in the chase for the conference title with a trip to Virginia Tech up next.

“The execution has to be much, much better, but we found a way to win,” Wilcox admitted.

Outside of Austin’s heroics, Jacob De Jesus was the team’s star with 13 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown that gave Cal a 14-7, first quarter lead. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw for 209 yards and kept Cal from committing any turnovers. Kendrick Raphael provided substance in the run game with 81 yards rushing and Cal’s third and final touchdown of the game.

The key? Sagapolutele, afforded a lead, played patiently, and didn’t get frustrated as his receivers dropped many of his 18 incompletions

“I’m just grateful for our coaches and staff for believing in me and trusting me, and putting me in places to make a play,” said De Jesus, who also had to pick himself up after a couple of untimely drops.

“Jacob did an excellent job for us,” Wilcox said. “He’s always going to show up.”

The embattled Tar Heels did little to ease the magnifying glass on themselves and Coach Bill Belichick with two turnovers and an offense that whiffed on its first three possessions. Cal forced six UNC punts and played much of the second half with a two-score lead.

“You can’t turn the ball over and win,” Belichick said. “It’s just too hard. We’ve got to eliminate some of those kind of mistakes.”

Cal is one win from six wins and bowl eligibility. Also, they can avoid a losing conference record for the first time since 2009 with three more wins.

Cal handles Belichick and UNC with 21-18 victory; pick up fifth win

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The Cal Bears Jacob De Jesus dives into the end zone for a first quarter touchdown against the UNC Tar Heels at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Fri Oct 17, 2025 (Cal Bears photo by Nancy Paiva)

By Morris Phillips

BEREKELY–The Cal Bears picked up their fifth win of the season improving to 5-2 with a 21-18 win over the UNC Tar Heels (2-4) at Cal Berekley’s Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

The game got off to an ominous start for North Carolina. On the very first play from scrimmage, the Heels fumbled the ball after a short pass, and Cal capitalized quickly. Just four plays later, with only about six minutes gone, Cal freshman quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele scored on a short rushing touchdown to give the Bears a 7‑0 lead.

The Tar Heels answered back with running back Benjamin Hall who took a handoff for an 18‑yard touchdown knotting up the game at 7‑7, giving the struggling Tar Heels some hope. But Cal came right back before the half, as Sagapolutele tossed to wide receiver Jacob De Jesus for a touchdown, and the Bears took a 14‑10 lead.

Third quarter action, Cal got more offensive scoring. The Bears scored on a fourth‑and‑one, when running back Kendrick Raphael took a two yard carry for touchdown, getting Cal up 11 points ahead 21‑10. UNC’s offense tried as hard as they could, but just couldn’t get enough offense and Cal stopped the Tar Heels for much of the third quarter from advancing the ball.

Fourth quarter: North Carolina tried to make a comeback in the game. The Tar Heels cut the Bears lead to 21-18, giving UNC some hope to get within striking distance. UNC couldn’t convert, when receiver Nathan Leacock caught a pass near the goal line but couldn’t get over the line, the Bears defensive back Brent Austin broke it up by knocking the ball out of Leacock’s hands only for Cal’s defensive back to recover the ball in the end zone with just four minutes left in the contest as Cal came away with the win.

Cal came away with the win with four point victory , the game did have some positives for UNC. The Tar Heels improved on defense keeping the game close, and the offense got a good performance from wide receiver Kobe Paysour. UNC errors were costly however when they had an fumble and a goal line fumble earlier. Cal put for their effort put a stop on UNC’s drive showing a strong defense. The Tar Heels continue to have troubles to finish drives. Cal had a number of penalties with nine penalties for 80 yards.

Cal takes on Virginia Tech next Friday Oct 24th at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg VA kick off 4:30pm PT