Category: NCAA

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Cardinal suffered Bad Luck (Play) versus the Fighting Irish, 47-40, on ACC Opening Night on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal forward Chisom Okpara (10) throws down on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) at Maple Pavilion in Palo Alto on Tue Dec 30, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (11-3, 0-1 ACC) allowed good fortune for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-4, 1-0 ACC) by losing to the visitors from the Midwest 47-40, on Opening Night of the 2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference league play, inside the confines of Maples Pavilion.

Notre Dame opened the conference contest with a tip-in layup. However, the Cardinal followed that with an 8-0 run to go up by six…The Fighting Irish topped that with a 10-0 run of their own, to lead by four. They eventually extended the margin to six. The guests from South Bend settled for a five point advantage at recess, 22-17.

The shooting in all three aspects was poor, at best. Both squads shot a putrid 27% from the floor. Stanford was 27% from beyond the arc, and 50% from the charity stripe, within the initial 20-minute half. Notre Dame was awful from threeland (0%) and 67% from the free throw line.

Cardinal top scorer Ebuke Okorie was scoreless for nearly the first 14 minutes of the game. He finally scored on a layup at the 6:02 mark of the half. That was his only tally in the first half. Okorie was working on a 30+ points consecutive streak, which was in dire jeopardy. Two points at the half would have required a 28-point explosion. That seemed to be very unlikely at the midway point of the battle.

Neither team produced a double-digit scorer in the very low scoring half of regulation play.

The second half had the Fighting Irish scoring first, as they did in the first half, on a basket by senior forward Carson Towt. They later extended their lead to as much as 16 points midway through the final half. Although they reached that wide of a margin, Stanford was still battling the Fighting Irish.

The Cardinal indeed fought back enough to get into striking range, cutting the deficit to single digits down the stretch. They were as close as five points behind at just under three minutes left in the game. Unfortunately for the home team, that was as close as they got in the second half, thanks to a couple of dagger threes by sophomore forward Garrett Sundra.

After 40 minutes of abysmal shooting on both sides, the Hoosier State hoopers prevailed and held on to victory by seven points, 47-40. The game could also be viewed as a defensive struggle, but the average fan on either side would have preferred an offensive masterpiece.

Stanford presented one player with more than ten points. Chisom Okpara contributed 13 points, while the high scoring freshman sensation Ebuke Okorie managed to chip in seven points and six rebounds.

Notre Dame also had a lone player reach that standard plateau. the aforementioned Jalen Haralson put up 13 points too, while his teammate Carson Towt grabbed 10 rebounds and scored eight points

The Cardinal will next be in action Saturday, January 2, as they host the Louisville Cardinals at 5 PM PT on the ACC Network. The Fighting Irish head across the Bay to take on the California Golden Bears, on the same date at 8 PM PT on ESPN2.

Cal Bears game wrap: Bears welcomed to ACC play with brutal awakening in 90-70 loss to Louisville

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Louisville Cardinal guard Adrian Wooley (14) takes a shot against Cal Bears forward Chris Bell (22) in second half action at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Tue Dec 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Louisville Cardinals 90 (11-2 Overall; 1-0 ACC)

California Golden Bears 70 (10-2 Overall; 0-1 ACC)

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–The Bears were welcomed to ACC play with a brutal awakening, as they fought the good fight, but were ultimately pummeled by the 16th-ranked Louisville Cardinals 90-70.

The Bears got off to a 12-1 start, one of their best starts in a long time, as they dominated non-conference play. While many of the Bears’ 12 wins came against lesser known schools, they still had some wins against elite teams like UCLA. There has also been an excitement brewing around the Bears, who have not had a winning season in nine years.

As the Bears start playing the big teams on a regular basis, they would be met with the best of the best from the very getgo. Tonight, the 16th-ranked Louisville Cardinals came to Haas Pavilion for the beginning of ACC play.

Haas Pavilion wasn’t filled to capacity, but a fairly-large crowd showed up nevertheless. Many excited Bears’ fans showed up, but many Cardinals’ fans showed as well. Perhaps a lot of them made the long journey from Kentucky to the Bay Area, which is a worthy trip.

As for the game, the Bears won the opening tip, but knocked the ball out of bounds. That seemed to set the tone for how tonight’s game would go. The Cardinals made Cal pay for the fumbled tip, as Sanandra Fru made an alleyoop dunk.

That was just the start for Louisville, who jumped out to an early 10-lead. The Cardinals dominated the first half, and eventually got out to a 36-15 lead with 5:53 left.

The Bears then went on a 10-0 run to suddenly cut Louisville’s lead to 36-25. Adrian Woolet and J’Vonne Hadley responded with threes to make it 42-25, but the Bears kept going. Justin Pippen hit a three with 57 seconds remaining to make it 44-31 and get the crowd back into the game.

Chris Bell would also hit a three for Cal, but Fru and Wooley scored for Louisville, who went into halftime up 14 points at 48-34.

The Cardinals opened their lead up to 25 points at 73-48 with 8:26 remaining in the second half. However, Cal made one last push, as they scored 14 unanswered points in just under two minutes. Bell hit a three to cut it to 73-62 with 6:44 remaining.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals seized control right back, and won it 90-70.

Ryan Conwell led the way for the Cardinals with 26 points, and Adrian Wooley was not too far behind with 21. For Cal, Chris Bell and Justin Pippen were able to cut through Louisville’s defense, and scored 20 and 17 points respectively.

All you can say is that the Bears ran into a juggernaut tonight, as they dropped just their second game of the season. Unfortunately, they are 0-1 in ACC play, which is what ultimately counts the most.

The Bears will need to put this one behind them. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will come to Haas Pavilion Friday night.

Tipoff will be at 8 p.m.

Spartans fall 81-68 in hard fought battle against San Diego State

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San Diego State University guard Elzie Harrington (3) guards SJSU Spartans guard Colby Garland (0) at Provident Credit Union Arena in San Jose Tue Dec 30, 2025 (SJSU Spartans photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

San Jose, Calif–The Spartans (5-7) entered the contest looking to snap a two game losing streak after falling at New Mexico, 88-65, and at home against Stanford, 86-82. San Jose State came in 4-2 on its home floor but winless against teams at .500 or better this season. The Aztecs, now 7-4, were playing their second conference game after opening Mountain West play with a loss to New Mexico.

San Jose State now 5-8 was without Javaughn Hannah, Ben Roseborough and Sadraque Nganga, further testing the Spartans’ depth against a physical Aztecs squad now 8-4 after defeating the Spartans 81-68 at Provident Credit Union on Tuesday night.

Turnovers plagued the Spartans early, allowing San Diego State to capitalize in transition. The Aztecs’ fastbreak offense helped build a double digit lead less than 10 minutes into the game.

San Jose State responded with a strong run midway through the first half, cutting what had been a sizable deficit down to a one possession game in a five minute span. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, though foul trouble emerged as a new concern for the Spartans. San Diego State went 9 of 14 from the free throw line in the opening half.

San Jose State forward Yaphet Moundhi left the game with just under three minutes remaining in the first half and did not return before the break. The Aztecs took a 42-38 lead into halftime.

Moundhi returned to the bench to start the second half but did not re-enter the game. Jermaine Washington opened the half with a 3 pointer to trim the Aztecs’ lead to one, setting the tone for a competitive second period.

Behind a scoring surge from Colby Garland, the Spartans tied the game at 49 with 14:30 remaining and briefly took a 53-51 lead shortly after. The game remained tight for more than 10 minutes, with neither team able to create separation.

That changed when San Diego State went on a key late run, pushing its lead to eight and halting San Jose State’s comeback momentum. The Aztecs maintained control from there, closing out the win.

Garland led a strong second half effort for the Spartans after a quiet opening half. San Jose State also excelled at the free throw line, shooting 94 percent as a team.

Despite the loss, the Spartans showed resilience, limiting turnovers and fouls while executing within their system. The effort, however, was not enough to overcome San Diego State’s late surge.

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman: Louisville crushes it 90-70; Cal can’t get past Cardinals in either half

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Taking a look at the Cal Bears Top 40 players guard Dai Dai Ames (7), forward Chris Bell (22), forward John Camden (2). Cal currently is on a nine game win streak. (photo by Cal Bears X)

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman Tue Dec 30, 2025:

#1 How will Cal’s star guard Dai Dai Ames manage Louisville’s defensive pressure?
Ames leads Cal in scoring and three-point efficiency — can he replicate his offensive rhythm against a top-20 Cardinal defense?

#2 Can Justin Pippen’s playmaking and pace-setting control the tempo early?
As one of Cal’s primary ball-handlers, how effective will Pippen be in initiating offense and limiting turnovers against Louisville’s perimeter defenders?

#3 What kind of impact will John Camden have on both ends of the floor?
Camden has been a consistent threat inside and beyond the arc — how will his scoring and rebounding influence Cal’s ability to stay close?

#4 How might Lee Dort’s rebounding and interior defense affect Louisville’s second-chance points?
Dort is one of Cal’s key rebounders — will he be able to contain Louisville in the paint and limit extra possessions?

#5 Which supporting Cal players Chris Bell, Jovani Ruff, or Milos Ilic will step up to provide complementary scoring?
Beyond the primary stars, can Bell and others deliver timely baskets to keep Cal competitive throughout the game?

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

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: Cardinal keep it going with 11th win 88-80 over CSUN

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Ebuka Okorie of the Stanford Cardinal takes the ball down the floor against the Cal State Northridge Matadors at Maples Pavilion on Sat Dec 27, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal X photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal picked up a key win improving their record to 11-2 and got the consistent offense that they’ve for most of this season staying on top of their visitors the Cal State Northridge Matadors (8-6).

#2 Daniel the Matadors started the first half going back into the dressing room at the half taking a 38-33 lead and maybe a shot at beating the Cardinal at home did they get too over confident or was Stanford just laying in wait to put this one away in the second half?

#3 Cardinal Ebuka Okorie led with 30 points. He was key in the Cardinal’s last game and he once again came through with another successful outing taking out the legs of the Matodors defense.

#4 The other Cardinal Chisom Okpara scored ten points less than Okorie with 20 and was second in scoring it was enough to help beat the Matadors by eight points to come away with a 88-80 win.

#5 Next up for the Cardinal the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame had snapped a four game losing streak with a win on Sun Dec 21 over Purdue 72-69. The Cardinal are rolling, Daniel how do you see this match up Tue Dec 30th at Maples Pavilion.

Join Daniel Dullum does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Cardinal charged the Matadors 88-80, inside the Maples Pavilion ring

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Ebuka Okorie Stanford Cardinal guard takes the ball up the floor against the Northridge Matadors in NCAA action at Maples Pavilion on Sat Dec 27, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (11-2, 0-0 ACC) ended their non-conference schedule with a convincing 88-80 victory over the California State University – Northridge Matadors (8-6, 1-1 Big West), Saturday Evening on the Farm.

CSUN got the scoring going in the Golden State battle with a single free throw conversion.  That slight lead was a theme for the first half and the Southern Californian guests.  The first 20 minutes was competitive, with six lead changes and three ties.

However, the Matadors dominated the time of leadership (17:20), despite the early back and forth scuffle.  CSUN shot 50% from both the floor and beyond the arc..  Stanford, on the other hand, was a putrid 36% from 2, and 17% from Threeland.  They also led by a high of 9 points, and had two significant runs (6-0 & 7-0).  While the Cardinal led by two for their highest  lead, but kept themself at a single-digit deficit (5) by recess, 38-33.

During the initial 20-minute block, only two players eclipsed the 10+ points plateau.  Chisom Okpara scored 14 points for the Cardinal, and senior guard Larry Hughes II put up an impressive 19 points, with five 3-pointers on a scintillating shooting clip.  Hughes is the son of former NBA player Larry Hughes.

After the intermission, the Cardinal went on a 13-0 run to start the second half in under two minutes of gametime play.  They went from trailing by five, to being up by eight in the blink of an eye.  Freshman sensation Ebuka Okorie was the key hooper to spearhead that TREEmendous push.  He more than doubled his first half output and made school history again in his brief tenure on the Farm.

Okorie’s 30 points marked the second straight game (32) for him amassing at least that amount of point production.  Last time it was done in 2010 by Landry Fields.  However, Fields was a senior, so Okorie is the only freshman to do the unprecedented Cardinal deed.

CSUN did not give up the fight, as they managed to be tied twice, and lost the lead change permanently.  Hughes II added a modest seven points to his total, but they needed a little more to take down the Tree.  Four other teammates contributed double-figure scoring, but it was not enough after the 40-minute time limit elapsed.  Stanford parlayed that second half explosion into an eight  points victory, 88-80.

Okorie led all players with 30 points, while Okpara aided his teammate with 20 points of his own,  Benny Gealer chipped in 13 points and five assists.  Ryan Agarwal delivered 10 points and eight rebounds to the Cardinal.

Hughes II topped the Matadors with his 26 points, while Joshua O’Garro (15), Davius Lowery (11), Mahmoud Fofana (11) and Josiah Davis (10) all did their part for CSUN.

The Cardinal will next be in action Tuesday, December 30 here at Maples hosting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and opening ACC play at 6 PM PT on ESPN2.  CSUN will next play in 2026 as they travel to UC – Davis to take on the Aggies on New Year’s Day at 2 PM PT on ESPN+

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: How Stanford stacks up against Cal Northridge Saturday

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Stanford Cardinal forward Chisom Okpara (10) and the Cardinal prepare to meet the Cal State Northridge Matadors Sat Dec 27, 2025 (photo by Stanford Cardinal)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson Thu Dec 25, 2025:

#1 How will Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie control the paint against Northridge’s forwards, and can the Matadors limit his rebounding and scoring impact?

#2 Can guard Benny Gealer’s scoring and perimeter shooting provide the offensive spark Stanford needs if Northridge clogs the lane?

#3 What role will forward Chisom Okpara’s play in orchestrating the Cardinal’s offense, and how effectively can he distribute the ball against a tough CSUN defense?

#4 Will AJ Rohosy’s contributions on both ends of the floor (scoring, defense, rebounding) be a factor in Stanford controlling the tempo early in this matchup?

#5 With bench scoring from players like Chisom Okpara and Benny Gealer, can Stanford maintain offensive balance if its starters struggle to find rhythm against Cal State Northridge?

Join Michael Roberson for the Cardinal podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: Okorie leads Stanford with 32 points in win over Colorado 77-68

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Ebuka Okorie (1) led the Stanford Cardinal in scoring with 32 points to help defeat the Colorado Buffaloes at PHX Arena in Phoenix for the Hall of Fame Series on Sat Dec 20, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal X photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Stanford Cardinal (10-2) defeated a former Pac 12 school the Colorado Buffaloes (10-2) which were no pushover in Colorado and quite handedly in a nuetral site win for the Cardinal 77-68 in Phoenix.

#2 Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie was lights out leading with 32 points. Okorie got fired up and the Buffloes just couldn’t shut him down regardless of double teaming him.

#3 The Buffaloes came away with a first half 35-33 lead it was the second half that the Cardinal had a breakout coming away with an 11 point 44-33 lead and that pretty much clinched it for Stanford.

#4 How much does this win on the road demonstrate that Stanford has jelled their game plan and doing it against a school who had lost only one game going into this one.

#5 Next up for Stanford the Cal State Northridge Matadors (7-5) Mon Dec 22 the Matadors have won five of their last eight games. This game will be at Maples Pavilion do you see the Matadors easy work for the Cardinal on Monday?

Daniel Dullum does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears game wrap: Ames and Camden carry Bears to dominant 74-56 win over Columbia to end non-conference play

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Cal Bears forward Lee Dort (34) dribble drives against the Columbia Lions at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sun Dec 21, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Columbia Lions (9-3)

California Golden Bears 74 (12-1)

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–Dai Dai Ames and John Camden dominated each half respectively, and the Bears crushed the Columbia Lions 74-56 to close non-conference play.

The Bears carried their 11-1 start into today’s game against Columbia Lions of the Ivy League. The Lions haven’t been shabby either, as they came in with a record of 9-2.

The opening minutes of this one were relatively quiet. John Camden hit a three with less than a minute in to open the scoring, but the game was tied 4-4 five minutes in.

Dai Dai Ames came through with a dunk and a jumper to give the Bears an 8-4 lead. When the halfway point of the first half approached, that’s when the Bears’ offense finally came to life.

In just under a minute and a half, Nolan Dorsey hit a three; Ames made a layup; and Chris Bell hit a layup and jumper in the paint. Suddenly, the Bears had opened up a 17-4 lead.

The remainder of the first half was mainly uneventful, though Mark Madsen stayed fired up the entire time nevertheless. The Bears went into halftime with a 28-16 lead. Ames dominated the first half with 12 points, and Bell was not too far behind with eight.

The Lions showed up with a little more fire in the opening minutes of the second half. The Bears’ lead remained between nine and 12 points until Camden hit a jumper with 13:15 remaining.

The Bears truly opened it up near the halfway mark of the second half. Dorsey made a layup, and Justin Pippen and Camden both hit threes to put the Bears lead at 56-35.

The Lions never gave up. They went on a 9-2 run to cut the Bears lead to 65-52 with 2:52 left. The Lions also played aggressive defense in the latter part of the second half.

However, the Bears still won easily by a final of 74-56.

The man who really came alive in the second half was John Camden. His three to open the scoring in the first minute of the game was his only scoring in the first half. Camden scored 14 points in the second, and 17 overall.

Camden’s 17 points were second to Dai Dai Ames, who scored 19. Ames scored seven points in the second half.

Now, the Bears will face a real test, as ACC play will get underway next week. The Bears dominated non-conference play, which featured many matchups against lesser-known schools.

The Bears’ first match in ACC play will be against the 11th-ranked Louisville Cardinals next Tuesday at Haas Pavilion. The Bears beat 18th-ranked UCLA in November, so they are certainly capable of going up against the elite teams. We will see next Tuesday.

Tipoff will be at 6 p.m.

BEAR ATTACK!: Cal Berkeley Golden Bears beat Morgan State University Bears, 97-50

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Morgan State Guard Walter Peggs Jr, drives into the lane who is heavily contested by Cal Berkeley forward Dhiaukuei “DK” Manyiel Dut. (Photo credits to Sports Radio Services Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – Cal men’s basketball has again transformed its home court into a fortress under the cold lights of “Haas of Pain.” In front of the Berkeley crowd, the Golden Bears put up a strong and effective performance, dominating the Morgan State Bears, 97-50.

Cal and Morgan State faced off on Tuesday night for the first time since November 25, 1991, at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. Cal won that game 97-50, and with this game, the Golden Bears extended their all-time series lead to 2-0.

Cal was in the middle of an eight-game homestand and had its best start since 2014, with a 10-1 overall record entering the contest. The Bears entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, their longest since 2014, and were unbeaten at home, with a perfect 9-0 record at Haas Pavilion.

The Golden Bears began the game with a starting lineup of John Camden, Chris Bell, Lee Dort, Dai Dai Ames, and Semetri Carr, who made his first start for the team. Dort instantly set the tone for the game, exciting the fans with back-to-back alley-oop punches. Cal then solidly claimed its home turf, dominating the tempo and imposing dominance over the Morgan State Bears.

Cal guard Dai Dai Ames entered the game averaging 18.3 points per game, while forward Chris Bell continued his strong runs of play, averaging 14.2 points in his previous ten games. Bell made an immediate impact, scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds by halftime. Morgan State struggled to find an answer for Bell’s offensive mix, especially in the midrange, as he shot 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc in the opening half.

Cal’s shooting efficiency was on full show in the first half, as the Golden Bears made 50 percent of their three-point tries and went 4-for-8 from deep. They were just as good overall, shooting 61 percent from the floor on 17 of 28 attempts. Berkeley played with poise and discipline on offense, moving the ball around the top of the key and making timely cuts that led to easy points.

The Golden Bears took care of the ball, causing only three turnovers as a team by halftime, while their defensive drive pushed Morgan State into six turnovers before the break. Morgan State was overwhelmed offensively, trying to find any rhythm and shooting 0-for-10 from outside the arc at halftime, while Cal maintained its momentum into the second half. At the break, the Golden Bears led 50-23.

Cal did not stop after the break, continuing to dominate on both ends of the court. Chris Bell led the squad with 28 points (8-of-11 shooting), six rebounds, and two assists. John Camden finished with 20 points, giving the Bears multiple scoring options that Morgan State couldn’t handle. Cal combined for 42 points in the paint and 21 points on the fast break, proving their depth and versatility. The Golden Bears won by nearly 50 points with a 97-50 triumph, dominating from start to finish and exiting Haas Pavilion with another statement win.

With their win, the Golden Bears improved to 11-1 overall and remained perfect at home with an 11-0 record. Cal returns to the “Haas of Pain” on Sunday, December 21st at 2 p.m. to host the Columbia Lions. The game will be aired and shown on the ACC Network