Category: NCAA

Tigers Stay Unbeatable at Home, Hold Off Redhawks, 56–54

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Pacific Tiger guard #10 TJ Wainwright shoots a midrange jumper to extend the Tigers’ lead against the Seattle University Redhawks, 55-48, on January 24th, 2026, in the Alex G. Spanos Center. (Photo by Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

STOCKTON – The Pacific men’s basketball team defeated Seattle University 56-54 on Saturday evening at the Alex G. Spanos Center, improving to 9-0 at home and 5-4 in WCC play, enough for fifth place in the league. Isaac Jack and TJ Wainwright led the way, delivering big plays that helped the Tigers withstand Seattle’s late surge. Jack finished with 14 points, 8 boards, and 2 blocks, and Wainwright added 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals to help Pacific remain unbeaten at home.

Pacific, which is 9-0 at home this season, welcomed West Coast Conference newcomer Seattle to Stockton. Seattle (14-8, 3-6 WCC) entered the game after defeating LMU 69-59 at home on Wednesday, and they had also achieved big upsets against Stanford, Washington, UTEP, Texas State, Denver, UTSA, and UC Davis in non-conference play.

Pacific is currently ranked 109th out of 365 teams in the NCAA NET Rankings, while the Redhawks are 118th. The WCC has six teams in the top 120, with Gonzaga leading the way at No. 4. This was the first game between the two teams since Pacific defeated Seattle 74-54 at home on Dec. 16, 1984. It was the 13th meeting between the two schools, dating back to the 1956-57 season, with Pacific leading 3-1 at home.

The Tigers began WCC play against the Redhawks at 4 p.m., eager to defend their home court, where they had been dominant all season.

Pacific’s starting lineup of TJ Wainwright, Justin Rochelin, Isaac Jack, Elias Ralph, and Jaden Clayton. Elias Ralph entered the game leading the Tigers with 17.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while also ranking in the top five in the WCC in scoring, minutes played, and free throw %.

Seattle went with Maleek Arington, Will Heimbroot, Austin Maurer, Junseok Yeo, and Brayden Maldonado. Maldonado entered the game as the Redhawks’ top scorer, averaging 14.9 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting from the field.

Pacific quickly took control of the game, going on a 5-0 run in the first three minutes. Justin Rochelin began the Tigers’ scoring surge with back-to-back three-pointers, giving him eight points. Seattle responded with three three-pointers in four attempts, bringing the score back to 18-15.

Pacific then spread the floor offensively, attacking the paint, with Jack making huge efforts. The Tigers also won the rebounding battle 19-12, scored 20 points in the paint, and had 11 assists to Seattle’s four. The first half ended with Pacific leading 33-18.

Seattle climbed into Pacific’s lead in the second half, thanks to early mistakes. A 10-0 Redhawks run pushed the score to 35-28, and they hit three of four three-pointers down the stretch to keep within the game’s reach. By the 13-minute mark, Pacific led 42-35, with a 31-20 rebounding advantage and 14 total turnovers.

TJ Wainwright made the team’s first three-pointer since the first half, helping Pacific expand its advantage to 53-43 with three minutes left.

Seattle made one more push, going on a 17-4 scoring run over six minutes to narrow its lead to 56-55 with 13.9 seconds left. Brayden Maldonado led Seattle with 20 points, 6 of 12 from three, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Despite the Redhawks’ late surge, Pacific hung on for a 56-54 victory, thanks in large part to Jack and Wainwright’s toughness and key plays, keeping the Tigers flawless at home.

The Tigers are now on a two-game winning streak, remain undefeated at home, and are in fifth place in the WCC. Pacific will host the Portland Pilots at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, California, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva: Camden, Pippin and Cal how they match up against Stanford on Saturday

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Cal Bears forward Lee Dort (left) throws down against UNC Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) in the first half at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Jan 17, 2026. The Bears hit the road Sat Jan 23, 2026 against cross bay rival Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Can John Camden set the tone offensively for Cal on the road, especially if Stanford pressures the Bears on the perimeter early?

#2 How important will Justin Pippin’s pace and decision-making be in keeping Cal composed against Stanford’s half-court defense?

#3 Will Cal look to establish Dai Dai Ames inside to counter Stanford’s frontcourt size, or lean more heavily on spacing and outside shooting?

#4 Can Camden and Pippin win the backcourt battle against Stanford’s guards and limit turnovers in what’s always a high-energy rivalry game?

#5 Which Cal role player could be the X-factor if Stanford sells out to stop Camden — and does Mark Madsen shorten the rotation in a tight road matchup?

Michael Villanueva does the Cal Bears podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Can Okorie continue his offensive charge against Cal?

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Stanford Cardinal forward AJ Rohosy (4) grabs the rebound from the Duke Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer (2) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Can Ebuka Okorie continue his scoring surge and force Cal to adjust defensively?

#2 How will Stanford’s senior guard Jeremy Dent-Smith impact the tempo and control the backcourt against Cal’s guards?


#3 What matchup challenges will forward AJ Rohosy present inside, and can he help Stanford secure the rebounding battle?

#4 Will Ryan Agarwal’s length and scoring versatility be a key factor in stretching Cal’s defense?

#5 Can Benny Gealer’s perimeter shooting keep Stanford competitive if Cal presses late in the game?

Join Michael Roberson for the Stanford Cardinal podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com


Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: Cardinal no match for Duke in 80-50 loss Saturday

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Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) takes a shot over the Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) in the second half at Maples Pavilion Palo Alto on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Ebuka Okorie was a major factor in Stanford’s offense with his scoring and playmaking — how did his game-planning from the start affect UNC’s defensive approach, and what adjustments did he make when he started heating up?

#2 Jeremy Dent-Smith and Ryan Agarwal knocked down key three-pointers late in the previous matchup to help seal the win — what did those clutch shots say about Stanford’s confidence and the team’s execution in crucial moments?

#3 How important was it to contain Stanford’s shooters like Benny Gealer and Benny Agarwal rotation offensively, and were there any specific looks they wanted to take or avoid during crunch time?

#4 With Chisom Okpara’s status fluctuating due to injury this season, did his availability Saturday night change how the Cardinal structured its lineup, and how did that impact effect the Cardinal defensive matchups?

#5 Stanford’s depth includes Oskar Giltay and versatile wings — how did those role players influence the flow of the game, especially in rebounding and spacing, compared to the Cardinal scouting report?

Join Daniel Dullum for the Stanford Cardinal podcasts Sunday evenings at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cardinal knocked over by #6 Blue Devils 80-50, on a Sunny Saturday Afternoon on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal forward AJ Rohosy (4) gets the rebound against the Duke Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer (2) in the second half at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Michael Robeson

STANFORD, Calif. — The battle of the ACC freshmen was one-sided, as Ebuka Okorie’s Stanford Cardinal (14-5, 3-3 ACC) lost to Cameron Boozer’s sixth ranked Duke Blue Devils (17-1, 6-0 ACC) 80-50, inside a packed Maples Pavilion.

Duke opened the game on a Cameron Boozer 6-0 run, and he did not stop there.  The freshman phenom and his twin brother Cayden combined for 37 points and 15 rebounds.  Although Cameron garnered the bulk of those numbers.  The twins are the offspring of former NBA player Carlos Boozer, and have created a stir in Durham, similar to last year with Cooper Flagg.

The Cardinal was present too, but had a tough time shooting and scoring in the first half.  They shot 29% from the field and @3% from Three.  The Blue Devils defense held them to 19 points in the first 20 minutes of game action.  As a matter of fact, Stanford did not score until 4:03 had elapsed off the clock.

To further that point, their high scoring and high flying freshman sensation was not off to an early and explosive start as he did in the previous game and others prior to that one.  By the time the game reached the midway point, Stanford had no player with at least 10 points, while the aforementioned Boozer had 20 points and 9 rebounds.

At recess, the visitors from North Carolina led by 16 points, 35-19.  The Blue Devils shot nearly 52% from the field, while beyond the arc was putrid (17%).  Maples had a buzz with a solid fan base from both schools.  Both Duke and North Carolina fans and alumni traveled well to the Bay Area or are based locally.  A terrific ACC atmosphere was present at Maples, and possibly at Haas pavilion too, because of the two blue-blood schools from back East.

The second half had Stanford scoring first, but Duke had multiple runs and led by as many as 32 points during the final half.  Boozer had a steady second half, while a couple of teammates joined him in double-figure scoring.  On the Cardinal side, Jeremy Dent-Smith managed to eclipse that plateau, as he put up 18 points for the home team.

After 40 minutes of ACC action, the Duke Blue Devils emerged from the Stanford campus with a 30-point blowout victory, 80-50. and a sweep of the Bay (Cal) conference squads.

Dent-Smith led the Cardinal with his 18 points and huge efforts to keep his team in reach.  Cameron Boozer ended up with 30 points and 14 rebounds, while his teammates Isaiah Evans (15) and Patrick Ngongba (13) both did their part for the victory.

Stanford will next be in action Saturday, January 24 at Maples, hosting Cal, for part 1 of the Battle of the Bay (ACC Style) at % PM PT on the ACC Network.  Duke flies back to Durham to host Wake Forest on the same date, at 5:45 PM ET on The CW Network.

Shorthanded Spartans drop contest to UNLV 76-62

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San Jose State Spartans Melvin Bell Jr scored a career high 22 points against the UNLV Runnin Rebels at Provident Union Event Center at San Jose on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (SJSU photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

San Jose — UNLV pulled away late to defeat shorthanded San Jose State 76-62 on Saturday afternoon, capitalizing on its depth and timely scoring runs to secure a Mountain West victory.

The Spartans dressed just seven players and were without leading scorer Colby Garland, who remains sidelined with a concussion. San Jose State also missed Ben Roseborough, Javaughn Hannah, Yaphet Moundhi and Jermaine Washington, leaving the Spartans thin against a UNLV team that entered the game favored.

Despite the limitations, San Jose State (6-12, 1-6 Mountain West) showed early resilience, trading baskets with the Rebels before UNLV began to find rhythm offensively. A Rebel run midway through the first half pushed the lead to eight, but the Spartans responded with a 9-1 surge to tie the game at 14.

San Jose State relied heavily on its interior offense in the opening half, drawing fouls and converting at the free throw line as perimeter shots failed to fall consistently. The Spartans briefly regained the lead at 20-19 with 8:23 remaining, but UNLV answered with a decisive 16-5 run to seize control.

Adrian Myers provided a spark late in the half, knocking down a 3-pointer and converting a pair of free throws to pull the Spartans within four. UNLV closed the half on another run and took a 40-31 lead into the locker room.

The Rebels opened the second half with efficient shooting, extending their advantage, but San Jose State adjusted offensively and found success from beyond the arc. A strong stretch of perimeter shooting cut the deficit to three and briefly swung momentum.

As the half progressed, the Spartans balanced inside scoring with perimeter looks, but UNLV maintained a cushion for much of the second half. Each San Jose State push was met with a response from the Rebels, who repeatedly halted comeback attempts.

Fatigue eventually set in for the undermanned Spartans, and UNLV pulled away in the closing minutes to secure the 76-62 win.

UNLV improved to 9-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while San Jose State fell to 6-12 overall and 1-6 in Mountain West action.

Cal Bears game wrap: Bears barely hold on in traumatic thriller for miraculous 84-78 win over #14 UNC:

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Cal Bears forward Lee Dort (left) throws down against UNC Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) in the first half at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

#14 North Carolina Tar Heels 78 (14-4 Overall; 2-4 ACC)

California Golden Bears 84 (14-5 Overall; 2-4 ACC)

Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–The Bears nearly blew a 19-point lead, but at the end they came out on top in a wild and emotional thriller with a nevertheless miraculous 84-78 win over the 14th-ranked UNC Tar Heels.

Another large crowd packed into Haas Pavilion on this Saturday afternoon to see the Bears take on another ranked team. Today, it was the 14th-ranked UNC Tar Heels. Cal came into today’s game 1-4 in ACC play.

The Bears got the crowd into the game right away. Lee Dort opened the scoring with a layup and an alleyoop dunk, and John Camden hit a three to give Cal a 7-0 start.

Derek Dixon hit a three to put UNC on the board, and remind everyone that they were here to play. Dixon’s three also reminded everybody that UNC had a large contingency of fans ready to make a lot of noise as well. Dai Dai Ames hit a three to make it 10-3, but UNC scored seven unanswered points to tie the game at 10-10.

The Bears responded with an impressive 19-5 run to open up a 29-15 lead. However, the Tar Heels came charging right back with an 11-2 run to close Cal’s lead to 31-26 with 6:51 left in the first half.

Caleb Wilson went for a jumper to try and cut Cal’s lead to just three, but he missed, which spurred a monumental momentum shift for the Bears. Chris Bell hit a three to make it 34-26, and from there, the Bears went on a roll.

Camden made a layup, and was fouled. He was sent to the line, where he made his shot, and Cal now led 37-26. Seth Trimble was fouled, and hit his second of two shots from the line to make it 37-27.

Justin Pippen then hit a three to make it 40-27. Trimble hit a jumper to make it 40-29, but every time UNC was able to score two, Cal followed it up with a three. That sequence was capped off with a three by Pippen to open Cal’s lead to 52-35.

Zayden High missed a three for UNC, which killed the drill. Dai Dai Ames then hit a jumper for two, and Dixon got a layup in. Cal led 54-37 at the half.

The Bears dominated the final six minutes and 17 seconds of the first half, and closed out the half with a 23-11 run. The question was then whether Cal could carry the momentum through the layover, and into the second half. While the Bears had a rather-comfortable lead, they were still up against the 14th-ranked team in the country, and as a result their lead was far from safe.

Pippen fired the opening salvo with a dunk to make it 56-37, and Cal got their lead to 20 at 63-43. However, UNC got a little bit of momentum, back, and scored seven unanswered points to close it to 63-50. Camden threw a bad pass, which resulted in a turnover, but Wilson was thrown out of bounds. Montas Koncanas then hit a three to get the Bears back on track.

The Bears had regained the momentum, and an Aimes jumper put the Bears back ahead by 19 at 74-55 with 8:26 to go.

Then suddenly, everything changed. Wilson and Trimble were both fouled, and both hit each of their two shots from the line. Dixon then hit a three to cut Cal’s lead to 12, which was their slimmest since the first half.

It got even worse. Jayden Young hit a three to cut it to 74-65, and the sea of light blue that made its way all the way from North Carolina was on fire. After Wilson was fouled and sent to the line, UNC fans were chanting so loud, it felt like a literal UNC home game.

Caleb hit one of two from the line, and Pippen gave Cal a brief reprieve with a three to get their lead back to 11. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t last long. Henri Veesaar threw down an alleyoop dunk; Dixon hit a three and Jaydon Young was fouled and hit both shots from the line.

It was now just a four-point game at 77-73, and while the Bears still had the lead, the Tar Heels were in complete control. UNC showed throughout this entire comeback why they were the 14th highest-ranked team in the country, and that they were the clearly-superior team in this game. Even with three minutes still remaining, the Bears were doing everything they could to run down the clock.

Pippen hit a jumper to make it 79-73 with 2:52 to go. Neither team scored in their next position, and then the Bears were hit with a shot clock violation.

Trimble was fouled by Dort with 1:47 to go, which sent the former to the line. Trimble hit both, and it was back to a four-point game at 79-75.

Both teams missed shots on their next possessions. After Trimble missed a jumper, there was a scramble for the ball, but Dort was able to hold onto it to give Cal the possession. Dort was fouled by Young, so the Bears threw the ball back in. Pippen got the ball, but he too was fouled by Young. Since that was UNC’s seventh team foul, Pippen went to the line with 57 seconds left.

Pippen hit both shots from the line, but the Bears were still not out of the woods. Trimble missed a three for UNC. Dort was then fouled, and unable to hit his first shot from the line. Veesaar also missed a three.

Veesaar took another shot from beyond the arc with 19 seconds left, and it was back to a three-point game at 81-78. All the Tar Heels had to do was foul; hope whoever was fouled misses his first shot; and then hit a three to tie it.

Veesaar fouled Pippen with 10 seconds left, but Pippen hit both shots, to make it 83-78, and the Bears were now in good shape. Wilson missed a three, and that pretty much did it. Dort was fouled, and hit a three throw for the hell of it.

Dort missed his second free throw, but who cared? Because someway, somehow, the Bears miraculously held on for a big 84-78 upset over the 14th highest-ranked team in the country.

It was really three guys who pulled this one off for the Bears. John Camden led the scoring with 20 points, and Dai Dai Ames was right behind him with 19.

While Justin Pippen was tied with Ames for the second-most points with 19, Pippen was easily the player of the game on the offensive side, and quite possibly, the player of the game entirely. Pippen was 5-for-8 in field goals; 3-for-4 from beyond the arc; and a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. He also had four rebounds and five assists.

On the defensive side, it was Lee Dort, who had 12 rebounds, 10 of them on defense. Dort also scored seven points, and threw in a pair of assists for good measure.

This is the Bears’ second win this season against a Top 25 team. The Bears are now 2-4 in ACC play, and 14-5 overall.

The Bears will have the next week off, and then they will head across the bay to Palo Alto to take on their hated rivals in all facets of life, the Stanford Cardinal, next Saturday. Afterwards, they will head to Florida for a pair of games: Wednesday, Jan. 28 in Tallahassee, against Seminoles; and Saturday, Jan. 31, just west of Miami, in Coral Gables, against the Miami Hurricanes.

Tipoff at Maples Pavilion next Saturday will be at 5 p.m.

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Comeback Cardinal overcame multiple double-digit deficits to defeat Tar Heels 95-90, Wednesday Evening, on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal forward Aidan Cammann (52) dunks against the North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jaydon Young (4) in the first half at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Wed Jan 15, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — Ebuka Okorie’s 36 points and nine assists led his Stanford Cardinal (14-4, 3-2 ACC) to a dramatic 95-90 come from behind victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels (14-3, 2-2 ACC) inside a raucous Maples Pavilion, with large fan participation for both schools.

UNC started the conference clash with the first four points of the game. However, Stanford followed that with a 5-0 run, to put them up by one. That would be their only lead in the entire first half.

The Tar Heels performed another significant run (7-0), eventually leading by as many as 12 points during the initial 20 minutes of play. Although the Cardinal continued to claw at the lead. They kept the game competitive by the halftime whistle.

Despite trailing for nearly 19 of the 20 minutes of the first half, Stanford only trailed by two at recess, 47-45.

The aforementioned Okorie led both teams at the half, with 17 points and 7 assists. Ryan Agarwal joined him with 11 points of his own. UNC center Henri Veesaar was the lone Tar Heel to be in double-figures scoring, with his 16 points at mid game.

The second half had the visitors from the Old North State more than doubling (10-0) their first half start to the second 20-minute stanza. UNC eventually parlayed that 2-point halftime lead to the game-high 12 points again.

As they did in the first half, Stanford fought back to erase the large deficit. They kept the score within reach, but just could not get over the hump for most of the second half. However, that was a different story with approximately one minute left in regulation.

Jeremy Dent-Smith stroked a dagger 3-pointer, which put the Cardinal up 88-87 at 1:01, and only their second lead (5-4) of the entire game. Ryan Agarwal followed that clutch shot with his own trey. Stanford established their largest margin of five.

As the seconds ticked off the scoreboard, the majority of the crowd was happy, and some gathered on the court in celebration. The Cardinal finished off a sweep of the Tar Heels over their first two years of ACC play.

Okorie led all players with 36 points, establishing another Stanford freshman record. Both Ryan Agarwal and Jeremy Dent-Smith added 20 points apiece , UNC’s leaders were Caleb Williams (26), Henri Veesaar (26), Seth Timble (13) and Luka Bogavac (13).

The Cardinal will next be in action Saturday, January 17, as they host the Duke Blue Devils.at 3 PM PT on the ACC Network. The Tar Heels head across the Bay to Berkeley, on the same date to take on Cal at 1 PM PT, on the ACC Network.

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Okorie leads the way with 36 to take out Tar Heels 95-90

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Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) drives on the North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (left) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Wed Jan 14, 2026 (AP News photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 How did Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie’s scoring and playmaking influence the outcome Wednesday night, especially in clutch moments, and what adjustments did North Carolina fail to make on him?

#2 Stanford’s ball movement and shooting seemed effective — how crucial were contributions from guards and in spacing the floor and keeping UNC’s defense honest?

#3 What impact did the Stanford frontcourt — including players like Okorie, Ryan Agarwal and Jeremy Dent Smith have on rebounding and interior defense against North Carolina’s size?

#4 Did role players such as Okorie, Agarwal and Dent Smith, make notable plays that shifted momentum, and how might that depth influence Stanford’s upcoming games?

#5 How did Stanford’s defensive effort in the second half evolve — particularly against North Carolina’s leading scorers — and what adjustments did coach Kyle Smith make to secure the 95-90 victory?

Join Michael Roberson for the Stanford Cardinal podcasts Wednesdays and Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva: Duke shuts down Cal’s scoring to pick up 71-56 win

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Duke Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (1) takes a shot over Cal Bears Semetri Carr (3) in the first half at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Wed Jan 14, 2026 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Dai Dai Ames had a significant role in his offensive flow tonight — how did you see his shot selection and decision-making impacted Cal’s ability to stay competitive with Duke?”

#2 Considering Justin Pippin’s role as a primary playmaker, what adjustments did Cal try to make when Duke pressure heated up, and how do you think they worked?

#3 Lee Dort one of the team’s leading rebounders — how did Dort approach the paint against Duke’s size and athleticism, and what could the Bears have done differently on the boards?

#4 Cal has a mix of veteran and younger pieces — how did they balance experience and energy to try to sustain runs in games like this, and what did you learn from Wednesday night’s matchup?

#5 There were a number of three minute dry spells for Cal that was crucial in them falling behind in the 71-56 loss to Duke.

Michael Villnueva is a Cal Bears beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com