Category: NCAA

Cardinal slashed by Tigers 66-64, Wednesday Night on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal Ebuka Okorie (1) drives towards the basket agianst the Clemson Tigers in the first half at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Wed Feb 4, 2026 in ACC action (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (14-9 3-7 ACC) suffered a cat attack inside Maples Pavilion, 66-64, with a loss to the Clemson Tigers (19-4, 9-1 ACC) in a “Hump Day”  conference night game.

Clemson started the game off with an immediate lead, as they converted a three-pointer.  However, Stanford did respond and fought hard to be in front at recess.  Although the Tigers led by nearly five times as many first half game clock ticks, the Cardinal found a way to be in front at halftime.

There were five lead changes and two ties within the initial 20 minutes of game action.  Both teams shot 100% from the charity stripe, while Stanford tallied 44% from the floor, and 27% from beyond the arc,  Clemson shot 41% and 36% respectively.

The only player on either squad to eclipse double-digit scoring was Cardinal freshman guard Ebuka Okorie, with his 12 points.  Stanford entered the locker room with a lead, due to the shooting prowess of redshirt-sophomore forward/center Aidan Cammann.  He hit a buzzer-beating jumper from the left side to put the home team up 32-30 at the midpoint of the game.

In the second half, Stanford was able to extend their advantage to six points early in the final half.  Clemson was not content with their position and clawed back into the lead, and the already back and forth contest was filled with added excitement.  Three more lead changes and six more lead changes occurred in the second stanza, providing a possible nail-biting finish.

With that being the scenario, the contest came down to free throw shooting.  In the final minutes of the game, the two teams who were perfect from the free throw line in the first half, both had crucial misses down the stretch in the second. half.

Stanford had two missed (1&!)s, which could have been four points added to their total.  Clemson missed two consecutive free throws to the delight of the Maples faithful, as they were rewarded a voucher for a free burger from a franchise restaurant, located across the Bay and US, as well as one on campus at the Stanford Mall.

Despite that gift from the visitors, they converted both free throws for their next opportunity at the line.  California (Mission Viejo) and redshirt-senior Nick Davidson calmly sank both of his attempts.  At the time, that appeared to be the game-winning points; however, they added two more free throws, which were proven to be the actual GW-FTs.  

Therefore, Okorie’s buzzer-beating layup was not a factor with the four free throw points cushion.  After 40 minutes of ACC regulation action, Clemson held on to win by two points, 66-64.

The aforementioned Cammann led all scorers with 19 points, and he chipped in 5 rebounds.  Okorie added six more to his halftime tally, and contributed 18 points for the Card.

Clemson presented three hoopers with double-figures to their names.  Nick Davidson put up 16 points and 7 rebounds in his homecoming in the Golden State.  Ace Buckner (11) and Chase Thompson (10) gave their contributions too.

The Cardinal will next be in action Saturday, February 7, hosting the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at 5 PM PT on ESPNU.  Clemson travels across the Bay on the same date and time, to take on the California Golden Bears on the ACC Network

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Clemson just gets by Stanford in razor close game 66-64

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Clemson Tigers forward Dallas Thomas (8) takes a three point shot against the Stanford Cardinal forward Adam Cammann (52) at Maples Pavilion Palo Alto on Wed Feb 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 How did Clemson manage to close out the game in the final minute — what were the key plays or free throws that decided the 66-64 outcome?

#2 Which individual performances stood out for each team (scorer leaders, career highs) and how did they impact the flow of the game?

#3 What were the turning points in the second half — how did momentum shift between the Tigers and the Cardinal?

#4 How effective was each team’s defense in critical moments, especially down the stretch when both sides struggled to score?

#5 How does this game reflect Clemson’s current road success in ACC play and Stanford’s recent struggles within the conference?

Stanford Cardinal podcasts with Michael Roberson are heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva: Cal hangs onto beat Georgia Tech 90-85 Wednesday night

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Cal Bears center Milos Ilic takes the ball to the hoop being pursued by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Kam Craft (12) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Wed Feb 4, 2026 (Cal Bears X photo)

Cal Bears podcast Michael Vilanueva Michael Villanueva:

#1 The Cal Bears (17-6) battled hard to stay ahead of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-12) with a five point win 90-85 at Haas Pavilion on Wednesday night there was a lot of focus towards the end of the game as the Yellow Jackets were closing in the last few minutes of the game.

#2 Cal’s Dai Dai Ames led with 29 points in the win. Ames help keep the Bears in the contest in his contribution for the win.

#3 Which key statistical matchups will determine the outcome of the Georgia Tech vs. Cal game — for example, how might Cal’s experience at home and scoring differential compare with Georgia Tech’s rebounding strength?

#4 How significant is this game for Georgia Tech’s efforts to stop its recent losing streak and improve its position in ACC play?

#5 What strategies might each coach employ based on last season’s Georgia Tech win in overtime meeting and the current season’s performances of top players like Cal’s Dai Dai Ames and Georgia Tech’s Kowacie Reeves or Baye Ndongo?

Michael Villanueva covers the Cal Bears for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden Bears Protect Their Cave Against Yellow Jackets, Final Score: 90-85 Cal Wins!

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California Golden Bear #7 Dai Dai Ames shoots a free throw after being fouled with 15:18 remaining in the Haas Pavilion at Berkeley, CA on February 4th, 2026. (Photo by Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – At Haas Pavilion on Wednesday night, the California Golden Bears defeated Georgia Tech 90-85. Cal improved its impressive home record to 14-2 after returning home from a conference game against Stanford and a split during last week’s two-game road trip in Florida.

With a 3-1 lead in the all-time series, Cal took on Georgia Tech for the fifth time in program history. The Yellow Jackets, however, had won the most previous game in Atlanta on February 15, 2025, 90-88 in overtime. Georgia Tech played its first game ever at Haas Pavilion on Wednesday.

Dai Dai Ames, Justin Pippen, John Camden, Chris Bell, and Milos Ilic were the Golden Bears’ starting lineup. Pippen had averaged 15 points, 4.4 assists, and two steals in the ten games leading up to this point, whereas Ames came into the game averaging 16.6 points per game for Cal.

Lamar Washington, Jaeden Mustaf, Kam Craft, Baye Ndongo, and Kowacie Reeves Jr. were the starting lineup for Georgia Tech. Reeves Jr. came into the game averaging 15.8 points per game for the Yellow Jackets, and Ndongo had averaged 12.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in the ten games prior.

Besides the excitement on the court, the evening included Cal’s Coaches vs. Cancer campaign and Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night, which honored university community members throughout the evening.

Ames made the opening basket of the evening with a midrange jumper, giving Cal a confident start to the game. The Golden Bears relied largely on Ames, who scored 10 points in the first seven minutes on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting attempt and converted each of their first three field goal attempts.

Cal took an early 17–13 lead because of Ames’ strong start, but things quickly changed after he was benched. The Golden Bears had a scoring slump, missing six straight shots in the two minutes Ames was out of the game, while Georgia Tech answered with a 4-0 run.

Midway through the first half, Cal took control again. The Golden Bears extended their lead to 26–16 with eight minutes left after making three straight 3-pointers as part of a 9–0 run that kept Georgia Tech scoreless for almost three and a half minutes.

After that, Cal started to struggle with turnovers as the Bears made three consecutive mistakes in a span of two and a half minutes. Georgia Tech took advantage of this and closed the lead with a 7-0 run. In only 41 seconds, Cal replied with a 6-0 run that included five of its final seven field goals and two more straight 3-pointers.

The Golden Bears finished the half in a rhythm, making all three of their last attempts and making two more straight 3-pointers. After playing its last three games away from home, Cal was leading 43–29 at the half because of the support of the home crowd. The Bears shot more than 50% from the field, beyond the arc, and at the free-throw line at the end of the first half, including eight 3-pointers. No place like home.

Georgia Tech had a strong start to the second half, cutting the lead to 47–44 with an 11–0 run in the first three minutes. Georgia Tech scored 15 points while Cal only managed four in the early going. The Yellow Jackets kept getting better, scoring three 3-pointers in the first five minutes—more than they had in the first half—and going on a four-minute, 20-2 run to take their first lead of the game, 51-49. The Bears were having trouble establishing a rhythm, and Cal’s 15-point halftime lead was gone. Cal only scored eight points in the paint, while Georgia Tech scored 34.

Cal’s offense came alive in the last seven minutes. Ames took back the lead at 67–65 with five baskets in 37 seconds. Chris Bell increased the lead to 70–65 with his second 3-pointer of the evening. Pippen extended the lead to 72–65 with a smooth pick-and-roll with Ilic on the next possession. In the crucial last seconds, Georgia Tech struggled to make baskets, only making two of nine shots.

Bell made another 3-pointer with two minutes left, but Fleming of Georgia Tech answered with a triple of his own to make it 80-77 with 1:00 remaining. With 43.9 seconds left, Ames drove to the basket, drew a foul, and made a 1-of-2 free throw to put Cal ahead 81-77. After that, the Golden Bears used timely scoring and precise free-throw shooting to win, 90-85.

Cal’s team highs: Justin Pippen had six assists, Milos Ilic had nine rebounds, and Dai Dai Ames had 29 points. Ames shot 69 percent from the field and missed just four shots.

John has now scored in double figures in five of the last six games and made at least one three-pointer in 22 of 23 games. Cal’s starting five all scored in double figures for the first time this season, while Dai Dai Ames recorded his tenth game of 20 points or more. On Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 5 p.m., the Golden Bears will host No. 20/19 Clemson at Berkeley, California’s Haas Pavilion for their final home game before a 2 game road trip to Syracuse and Boston College.

No Place Like Home, Sac State Beats Weber State, Wins 3 Home Game Stands In a Row, Final Score: 104-90

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Sacramento State Hornet guard #16 Prophet Johnson shoots a free throw in the 2nd half with 11:11 remaining in the game at the Hornet Pavilion on Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2026 (photo by the author Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

SACRAMENTO – On SACTOWN Sports Night, Sacramento State defeated Weber State 104-90 to extend its winning streak to three games and maintain its dominance at the Hornet Pavilion. The Hornets came out strong and never looked back, playing their best basketball of the season. They controlled the game from beginning to end with a combination of early offensive bursts and disciplined second-half execution. Hornets are 5-0 at home in Big Sky play for the 2nd time ever.

The Hornets started the game with Prophet Johnson, Mark Lavrenov, Shaqir O’Neal, Mikey Williams, and Jahni Summers in the backcourt. Lavrenov had anchored Sacramento State on both ends of the court with four double-doubles in his previous six games, while Williams was one of the Big Sky’s leading scorers going into the contest with an average of 20.6 points per game. Tijan Saine Jr., Duce Paschal, Nigel Burris, Viljami Vartiainen, and Malek Gomma were the players that Weber State used to respond. Saine Jr. led the Wildcats with 15.9 points per game, while Gomma controlled the glass with 7.1 rebounds per game.

Shaqir O’Neal, a forward for Sacramento State, opened the game with a stunning three-pointer that sent the crowd into an uproar. The Hornets made four of their last five field goal attempts and played smart basketball with efficient ball movement, taking a 12-9 lead in the first five minutes. Sacramento State went on a 6-2 scoring run early in the game, but the Wildcats quickly reacted with four straight field goals to maintain a competitive score. With backdoor cutters and high screens, both teams began to establish a rhythm. However, the Hornets had a momentary slump, going scoreless for two minutes and making consecutive errors, which allowed Weber State to narrow the lead to 22–21.

Summers began a rapid run with back-to-back three-pointers to drive a 15-3 run that included five consecutive field goals, and Sacramento State immediately regained control with a 7-0 run after making three consecutive shots in a minute and a half. With six minutes left in the first half, the Hornets increased their lead to 33–24.

After that, Sacramento State scored 28 points in the last seven minutes of the first half, putting the game well out of reach. The streak included a three-pointer from Hornet Madi Arman, which gave Sacramento State three consecutive three-pointers and put Weber State in a scoring bind that lasted over three minutes. The Hornets kept up their impressive shooting, making twelve of their thirteen field goal attempts at the end of the half and six straight three-pointers. Summers scored 17 points to start the Hornets’ offensive early, and Sacramento State led 53–32 at the half. The Hornets would also finish with 9 threes in the 1st half.

Mark Lavrenov drove to the rim for a layup to give the Hornets their first basket of the second half, but O’Neal soon got into foul trouble and committed his fourth personal foul. Weber State scored right away, making four consecutive field goals and six of their final ten tries, while Sacramento State started slowly, lasting almost three minutes without scoring. In response, the Hornets maintained control by attacking the basket, drawing fouls, and making clutch free throws. Although Weber State’s determination and ability to get into the lane allowed the Wildcats to score more points in the second half than in the first, Sacramento State’s lead was cut to 9 points, 70-61.

Weber State put pressure on the Hornets with their aggressive defense and baskets in the paint, cutting the advantage to 83-68 with almost seven minutes remaining. Sacramento State maintained its composure as it continued to drive to the rim, draw fouls, and make free throws, despite the Wildcats scoring 42 points in the paint during the half. Weber State attempted a comeback late in the game with its sixth three-pointer of the half, but Sacramento State finished the game with confidence thanks to the Hornets’ discipline and beneficial turnovers.

Prophet Johnson, who scored 35 points and energized the offense with constant scoring from the perimeter and in transition, was the driving force behind the Hornets’ win. With nine rebounds and 18 points throughout Sacramento State’s scoring runs, Mark Lavrenov dominated the paint. Jahni Summers, who coordinated the offense and made big three-pointers that fueled the Hornets’ shooting runs, contributed five assists.

Prior to the game, Sacramento State guard Prophet Johnson was named the College Insider National Player of the Week for helping the Hornets stun Montana and Montana State, both of which were in second place in the Big Sky Conference, at home. Zach Chappell was the last Hornet to get this national award in 2022. Chappell is now the assistant general manager of the Hornets.

With their third consecutive win, Sacramento State upped its home-court record to 9-1 and reinforced its standing as one of the top 6 schools in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets will host first-place Portland State at 7 p.m. on February 7, 2026, in another major Big Sky game, hoping to build on their home-court success and continue their climb in the conference standings.

The Hornet Pavilion is buzzing with record-breaking crowds and momentum on their side. Just the Hornets hope to move this momentum and play it into road games, as the Hornets still haven’t won on the road. However, the team loves to play and thrive in their nest. Saturday’s game will conclude the team 4-game homestand.

Hornets Win Big Sky Game Against Montana State, 83-80, at Hornet Pavilion

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Sacramento State guard #1 Mikey Williams shoots a midrange jumper to tie up the score, 69-69, against Montana State Bobcats on January 29th, 2026, at the Hornet Pavilion in Sacramento, CA. (Photo by Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

SACRAMENTO – In an exciting Big Sky Conference game on Thursday night at Hornet Pavilion, Sacramento State defeated Montana State 83-80 to begin its season-long four-game homestand. The Hornets defeated the Bobcats in the closing seconds of a tough game to improve to 7-1 at home and capture their seventh victory of the year. Fans were on the edge of their seats the entire time as Sacramento State used home-court energy, clutch plays, and key performances to win. The game had five lead changes and six ties.

Montana State was 13-8 overall and 7-1 in conference play going into the game, while the Hornets were 6-13 overall and 2-5 in Big Sky play. After a two-game losing run, Sacramento State returned home and used its home-court advantage and intensity to take control at key points, ending the Bobcats’ four-game winning streak. For a squad that had gone 49 days in a row without a home game earlier in the season, the win was very meaningful. The Hornets’ return to Hornet Pavilion and their eventual win were all the more meaningful during that time, which featured a seven-game road trip and the third-longest home-game break among Division I teams.

All 15 players on Sacramento State’s roster are new to the program this season, yet the Hornets showed unity and grit throughout the game. Mikey Williams, Jahni Summers, Shaqir O’Neal, Prophet Johnson, and Mark Lavrenov, their starting five, led the effort. Mark Lavrenov finished the game with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the Hornets in the paint, while Prophet Johnson led the way with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Williams helped Sacramento State keep control in the crucial closing minutes by contributing crucial scoring.

The leadership team at Sacramento State played a crucial role in directing the new roster. In his debut season, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was the general manager, and head coach Mike Bibby went back to his hometown. In a Big Sky Conference game, the two assisted in leading a newly formed squad to a big win at home. Sacramento State’s Sikh Night, which honored Sikh culture and showcased the team’s strong identity in the newly renovated Hornet Pavilion—a section of The WELL transformed into the program’s current home—marked the end of a 66-year tenure at The Nest.

Montana State selected a starting lineup with Chris Hodges, Christian King, Jed Miller, Davian Brown, and Patrick McMahon. Jed Miller led the way with 25 points as the Bobcats, who are renowned for their shooting, made nine three-pointers in the second half after making six in the first. Montana State was unable to overcome the Hornets’ home-court energy and clutch performance, even though they scored 42 points in the second half and kept the game close with several ties and lead changes.

The Hornets led 45-38 at the half after controlling the opening half. Christian King, forward for the Bobcats, opened the score early with a jumper following a Hornets turnover, but Sacramento State soon recovered. In the first 19 minutes, Mark Lavrenov scored 12 points on flawless 5-of-5 shooting and pulled down 5 rebounds, while Prophet Johnson scored 17 points with 3 rebounds and 4 assists. The Hornets’ excellent three-point shooting—more than 50% in the first half—along with Lavrenov’s tenacity and unrelenting hustle in the paint allowed Sacramento State take a 10-point lead, which was sealed by an important 7-0 scoring run.

Montana State was determined to recover from their shooting in the 1st half after halftime, and the Bobcats’ shooting allowed them to do so. However, Sacramento State remained calm, relying on solid performances from Johnson, Lavrenov, and Williams, as well as the passion of their home crowd, to overcome the Bobcats’ charge. The Hornets sealed the hard-fought 83-80 victory in the closing minutes by stopping Montana State’s comeback. Sacramento State was able to go on a 14-9 run in the final four minutes. Six of those points came from guard Mikey Williams.

Hornets Prophet Johnson, Mikey Williams, and Mark Lavrenov combined for 67 points to help Sacramento State secure this win. The Hornets also shot a season high 56% from the field while also hitting eight trey’s in 18 attempts going 44%. The Hornets showed their athleticism and toughness with having 24-2 fast break total points, along with having 40 of their 83 points in the paint.

The Hornets will try to build on this win in their upcoming home game against the University of Montana Grizzlies on January 31 at 7 p.m. at Hornet Pavilion in Sacramento, California.

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Cardinal fall short to Hurricanes 79-70

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Stanford Cardinal Ebuka Okorie dunks on the Miami Hurricane at the Watsco Center in Miami on Wed Jan 29, 2026 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Ebuka Okorie led Stanford with 19 points—how do you evaluate his offensive performance Wednesday night, and what adjustments do you think he could make moving forward?

#2 Ryan Agarwal contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds—what did you see from him on both ends of the floor, and how important is his role in keeping the team competitive?

#3 AJ Rohosy finished with 10 points—how would you assess his aggressiveness and shot selection in Wednesday night’s game?

#4 Benny Gealer added 17 points—what do you think he did well Wednesday night, and what areas does he need to focus on to help the team in the next game?

#5 With Jeremy Dent-Smith scoring five points and dealing with some tough defensive matchups, how does he plan to adjust the rotations or strategy to get him more consistent production?

Michael Roberson does the Stanford Cardinal podcast Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

10-0, 10-0,10-0, Pacific Tigers are 10-0 at Home, as they beat Portland Pioneers, 74-51

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Pacific Tigers guard #2 Elias Ralph makes a midrange jumper to extend the lead, 42-25, on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, CA, against the University of Portland Pioneers (photo by Michael Villanueva-Sports Radio Service)

By Michael Villanueva

STOCKTON – The Pacific Tigers beat the University of Portland, Pioneers 74-51 on Wednesday night in a West Coast Conference game at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, California. The game, played on Dignity Health Night, came midway through WCC play and was a major win for Pacific, which stopped a five-game losing streak to Portland while remaining unbeaten at home. With the win, the Tigers advanced to 15-8 overall, 6-4 in conference play, and 10-0 in the Spanos Center, kicking off a three-game winning run at the midway point.

Pacific entered the game off a hard-fought 56-54 win against Seattle on Saturday, the two programs’ first meeting in 42 years. The game was extra important because Portland had just beaten Pacific. In their first meeting of the season, the Tigers led 86-81 in overtime before the Pilots sank three straight three-pointers on their last possessions, including a left-corner shot by Matus Hronsky with 3.0 seconds left, handing Pacific a heartbreaking 90-89 loss.

Pacific’s starting five—TJ Wainwright, Isaac Jack, Elias Ralph, Justin Rochelin, and Jaden Clayton—provided perseverance and toughness throughout the game, with four players (Ralph, Rochelin, Jack, and Wainwright) posting double-doubles this season.

Portland entered the night with a starting lineup of Jermaine Ballisager, Dante Censori-Hercules, James O’Donnell, Samuel Noland, and Mikah Ballew, looking to complete a season sweep of Pacific. Dante Censori-Hercules had been efficient as a defensive stopper all season and had his best game of the year versus Pepperdine, ending with four points, six rebounds, and four assists in 27 minutes. He backed up his performance with a season-high seven rebounds vs Loyola Marymount.

Pacific took control of the game from the start. Isaac Jack scored the first point with a layup, and the Tigers went on a 7-0 scoring run in the first nine minutes, establishing an early lead and forcing Portland to play catch-up. Pacific led 40-21 at halftime, thanks to strong performances from TJ Wainwright and Elias Ralph, who each scored 11 points. Wainwright went 5-for-6 from the field, plus two assists and two steals, while Ralph had four rebounds on 2-of-5 shooting. Pacific shot 61.5% from the floor in the first half, scoring 22 of its 40 points in the paint, executing its plan of feeding the post and creating high-percentage shots. Portland struggled to create a rhythm offensively, shooting just 24 percent from the floor (6-of-24) and 10 percent from three-point range (1-of-10).

Pacific maintained its control during the second half. Justin Rochelin started strong, going 5-for-6 and launching a four-minute scoring outburst of 6-1. The Tigers also dominated transition, scoring 10 fast-break baskets while holding Portland scoreless in their transitions. Pacific expanded its lead to 62-38 after 13 minutes, and the Tigers led 69-46 in the final three minutes, effectively securing the win. Justin Rochelin led Pacific’s diverse offense with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 11 rebounds, while TJ Wainwright contributed 15 points, one rebound, three assists, and three steals. Their performances, combined with help from the rest of the starting lineup, dominated Portland on both ends of the court.

Pacific’s win was a complete home-court effort, keeping the Tigers unbeaten at the Alex G. Spanos Center and snapping Portland’s five-game losing streak. Pacific now turns its attention to the road, riding a three-game winning run as it prepares to meet the University of San Francisco Dons on Saturday, January 31st, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Sobrato Center in San Francisco.

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: Stanford gets beat by Cal in 12 point deficit

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The score says it all as the Stanford Cardinal are beaten by the Cal Bears on their home floor on Sat Jan 24, 2026 at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto (Stanford Cardinal X photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

Tough loss for the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday night losing to the Cal Bears at Maples Pavilion 78-66 but Cal had the final say. In the first half it was close but Stanford came away with a four point lead 38-34. The Cardinal in the first half played a solid game and they led early they led by ten points.

This was before Cal put together a 25-5 run and that’s how they got that four point lead in at the half. The Cardinal leading scorer was Jeremy Dent Smith he had the effort but Dent Smith really needed help from his teammates to try and win this game. Stanford they have a nice lineup but they all need to be clicking they need to be playing off each other.

If their not able to do that and Cal had sonething defensively to do with that and yest Dent Smith had a nice game but the other guys have to step up and they didn’t. Cal is having a solid season which is partially why you had every reason to look forward to Saturday night’s game. Both these teams have had their issues the last few years but this season their both off to excellent starts and it looked pretty even going in.

Daniel podcasts Stanford basketball each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Cardinal mauled by Golden Bears, 78-66 in Battle of the Bay I, Saturday on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal guard Jeremy Dent Smith drives to the net against Cal Bears guard TJ Carr (3) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alot Sat Jan 24, 2026 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Robeson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (14-6, 3-4 ACC) squandered a double-digit first half lead and dropped their home portion of the Battle of the Bay 78-66 to the California Golden Bears (15-5, 3-4 ACC) inside of a sold out Maples Pavilion Saturday night.

Cal scored the first points of the game, but soon relinquished the small advantage over the Cardinal,  There were eight lead changes and six ties during the initial 20 minutes of game action.  The last switch would loom big throughout the rest of the game.

With all the back and forth by the longtime Bay Area rivals, Stanford managed to lead by as many as 16 points.  However, the guests from Berkeley would have a say in the scoring margin by halftime.  Both squads had runs, but Stanford’s 10-0 foray had them in the lead for more than 15 and 1/2 minutes, while Cal was in front for less than three minutes.

The Golden Bears used their small of amount of time wisely.  The eighth lead change  came just under a minute before intermission.  Cal completed a dramatic comeback, before the halftime whistle.  By the time it was recess, Cal had turned a 16-point, to a four points lead for themselves.  A 20-point turnaround before halftime, was great momentum for the Golden Bears, 38-34.

At the midway point of the conference clash, Stanford had one player in double figures, Jeremy Dent-Smith (11), while Cal had two of their own to meet the plateau.  Senior forward John Camden had 11 points, in addition sophomore guard and son of basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, Justin chipped in 10 points.

The second half was similar to the first, with Cal converting the first bucket.  Not only did they do that, but they forged a 12-0 run and led by as much as 15 points before 40 minutes elapsed on the game clock.

During the regulated 20 minutes of second half play, there was one more time the score (60) was tied.  Besides that, Cal was in front from the moment they regained the lead before halftime.  From there, they went on to outscore the Cardinal 18-6, tripling their output. At the final buzzer, Stanford had fallen to their cross-Bay rival by 12 points, 78-66.

Jeremy Dent-Smith led the Cardinal with 20 points and Ryan Agarwal added 12 points and 9 rebounds.  The top bucket-getter, Ebuka Okorie did contribute 14 points for the cause; however, it came from an abysmal 1-16 from the floor and 0-9 from 3-point land.  The bright spot was he shot 12-14 from the free throw line, which greatly assisted his final total.

The Golden Bears were led by John Camden’s game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds.  The aforementioned Justin Pippen offered 18 points and six assists, in addition to Dai Dai Ames (11) and Chris Bell’s (10) points production.

Stanford will next be in action Wednesday, January 28th in South Florida, as they take on the Miami Hurricanes 6:00 PM PT and 9:00 PM ET on the ACC Network.  Cal will also fly to the Sunshine State, on the same date, to battle the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee at 4:00 PM PT and 7:00 PM ET, also on the ACC Network.  Part II of the Battle of the Bay will be Saturday, February 21, at Haas Pavilion 3:00 PM PT on the ACC Network.