Tag: ACC

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: You can’t even contain him Okorie scores 22 Cardinal beat Boston College 70-64

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Boston College men’s basketball forward Jayden Hastings (right) with the ball against Stanford Cardinal Oskar Giltay (15) at Conte Forum on Feb. 11, 2026. | John Sexton / Boston College Eagles On SI

Stanford Cardinal basketball podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Stanford’s (16-9) leading scorer, Ebuka Okorie, finished with 22 points against Boston College (9-15), and how did his performance impact the final result?

#2 Did guard Benny Gealer’s three-point shooting significantly contribute to Stanford’s offensive success in this game, and if so, how effective was he from beyond the arc?

#3 Stanford forward AJ Rohosy had eight rebounds and Aidan Cammann five rebounds in the matchup, and how did their board work influence the flow of the game?

#4 How did guard Jeremy Dent-Smith’s performance help Stanford maintain or extend a lead during critical stretches against Boston College (9-15)?

#5 Considering Ryan Agarwal’s contributions, did he provide key defensive stops or secondary scoring that affected Stanford’s ability to close out this ACC road game?

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

Cal Falls to No. 20 Clemson 77–55 at Haas Pavilion on Rock Your Crocs Night

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California Golden Bear forward #22 Chris Bell shoots his 2nd free throw attempt with 7:37 remaining in the 1st half in the Haas Pavilion on Saturday evening on February 7th, 2026. (Photo Credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – In front of an excited home crowd, the California Golden Bears played No. 20 Clemson on Saturday night at Haas Pavilion for Rock Your Crocs Night. However, after early signs of optimism, the Tigers easily won 77–55.

Cal came into the game having lost the previous two meetings and losing the all-time series versus Clemson 2–1. Tigers have made it three straight losses in a row. The conference matchup was made more interesting by the fact that, like Georgia Tech before them, this was Clemson’s first time visiting Haas Pavilion. The Tigers started with RJ Godfrey, Jestin Porter, Jake Wahlin, Ace Buckner, and Carter Welling, while the Golden Bears, with their starting five of John Camden, Chris Bell, Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, and center Milos Ilic, took the floor.

Cal was prepared to make a statement first. Justin Pippen quickly ignited the fans with a driving layup after the Golden Bears won the tip. Cal made all three of the team’s shots, while Pippen and Chris Bell led the squad in the first few minutes, with Pippen scoring seven points without a miss and Bell adding six. whereas Clemson had a difficult start, missing multiple shots and committing two turnovers in a nearly four-minute stretch. Five minutes into the game, the Golden Bears had a 13–9 lead, and the crowd was loving it.

However, things suddenly changed quickly. The Bears committed four turnovers in just four minutes, which led to Cal’s offensive decline and allowed Clemson to gain the upper hand. As they found their groove, the Tigers played with accuracy, dishing out nine assists. Their bench also added 20 points, which increased the pressure. The game shifted in favor of Clemson after a 17–1 scoring run over almost ten minutes, as Cal missed 13 straight field goals, falling to 24 percent shooting in the first half. The Tigers’ defense forced nine turnovers, made four blocks, and recorded four steals, keeping Cal to 38 percent from three-point range and giving Clemson a dominating 39–20 advantage at halftime.

Pippen opened the second half by making a midrange jumper and turning the foul into a three-point play. Bell slowly started to find his stride and made back-to-back shots to give the Golden Bears some energy after a short scoring slump. However, Clemson kept their dominance. The Tigers led 56–41 with eight minutes left, and RJ Godfrey’s three-pointer off a foul put them ahead 59–41. Any Cal comeback attempts were consistently stopped by Clemson’s effective offense and defense, which included aggressive drives, rebounds, and smart fouls that sent them to the line.

After Cal missed another field goal going for three minutes, the Tigers took the lead by 24 points, and then the team went on a 9–0 run in two minutes late in the second half, leading fans to begin leaving Haas Pavilion with five minutes remaining. In the closing minutes, Cal coach Mark Madsen started to slowly remove his starters. Despite scoring 33 points in the second half, the Golden Bears were unable to overcome Clemson’s dominant performance. Tigers made 12 three pointers in this game, compared to the home team Bears, who only made 4 all game.

Milos Ilic pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and added two assists, while Justin Pippen led Cal with 19 points. This is Justin’s 20th game this season, scoring in double-digits.

In front of an energetic, Croc-loving home crowd, Clemson easily won the game 77–55, handing Cal a 22-point loss. After an early hot start, the Golden Bears found it difficult to recover from the Tigers’ strong offensive attack and defensive pressure. Clemson is in 2nd place, while the Cal Bears are in 10th place in their conference. Syracuse came into the West Coast and won their games, going 2-0 in the Bay.

In an attempt to bounce back from the hard loss at home, the Golden Bears will travel for their next two games, starting at 4 p.m. on February 11 against Syracuse, who are currently on a two-game losing skid, and Boston College at 9 a.m. on February 14.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 podcast Daniel Dullum: Stanford gets crushed by Virginia 70-55

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Virginia Cavaliers guard Sam Lewis (5) guards Stanford Cardinal guard Benny Gealer (5) at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville on Sat Jan 10, 2026 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Ebuka Okorie came into Saturday night averaging over 20 points but was held scoreless in the second half — can you talk about what defenses he faced and how he tried to counter that?

#2 Benny Gealer scored 15 points, most in the first half — what adjustments did he try to make after halftime to sustain that scoring against Virginia’s defense?

#3 Eight players scored for Stanford Saturday night — how do you evaluate the bench contributions and what can be taken from Saturday night’s rotations moving forward?

#4 Stanford shot much lower in the second half compared to the first — what was the message at halftime and how did they try to get more efficient looks after the break?

#5 With this being Stanford’s first road loss of the season, what lessons will the team take from this performance as they head into ACC play back at Maples Pavilion?

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