Tag: Cal Bears

Cal Bears game wrap: Camden and Ames help Bears pull off surprisingly-close 79-70 win over Northwestern State

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Northwestern State Demons Justin Redmond (13) and Chris Mubiru (11) defend against the Cal Bears forward Lee Dort (34) at Haas Pavilion on Sat Dec 13, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Northwestern State Demons 70 (2-8)

California Golden Bears 79 (10-1)

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–It was a close one—and perhaps closer than some people thought it should have been—but John Camden and Dai Dai Ames carried the Bears to a 79-70 win over the Northwestern State Demons to keep their hot start alive, and get their 10th win.

After a 93-71 rout of Dominican on Tuesday, the Bears were 9-1, and off to their best start in 11 years. Today, they looked to get their 10th win against the Northwestern State Demons of the lesser-known Southland Conference. The Demons came into today’s game with a record of 2-7, but once this game got underway, that would prove to mean absolutely nothing.

The Bears got off to a strong start. John Camden hit a three, a little over a minute in, to open the scoring. Izzy Miles was fouled, and hit one of two from the line to put the Demons on the board. Chris Bell then scored two more for Cal with a layup; and Camden was fouled, and hit both shots from the line.

Cal had an early 7-1 lead, and the early vibes of this game seemed to indicate that it would be all Bears today. The Demons cut it to 7-5, but the Bears got back to a six-point lead when Semetri Carr hit a three to make it 14-8.

However, the Bears’ offense suddenly went quiet in the middle of the first half. The Demons showed that they were going to be a tough match for the Bears today, and they went on an 18-6 run to take a 26-20 lead with 6:29 to go.

Cal sprung back to life in the final minutes of the first half. Carr hit a three, and Miles Iloc delivered a layup to make it 26-25. 

The middle of the first half may have been quiet, but the end was going to be quite dramatic, and even a bit chaotic. With the Demons up 32-31 and 1:15 to go, Nolan Dorsey stole the ball, and passed it to Camden, who hit a three to put the Bears up 34-32.

Miles was fouled, and hit two from the line to tie it. Demons Head Coach Rick Cabrera was hit with a technical foul with 27 seconds remaining, and Camden hit one of two from the line to put the Bears back ahead. 

Justin Redmond hit a three with six seconds left. to give the Demons the lead again. Dai Dai Ames then beat out the clock with a driving layup to tie the game going into the half. The play was confirmed after review, and it was the shot in the arm the Bears needed going into the second half.

Ames only scored seven points in the first half, but his thrilling layup was just the beginning of what would turn out to be a big night for him. 

It was 37-37 going into the second half, and the second half was jam packed with action. The lead changed hands several more times, and the Demons had a five-point lead at 58-53 with 12:19 to go.

However, the Bears never relented, and Camden and Ames led the charge in the second half. Camden and Ames both hit threes, and the Bears were right back ahead at 59-58.

The Demons were ahead again. They led it 65-62 with 7:25 left on the clock after a three by Jumawan. Lee Dort then came through with a dunk to make it 65-64, and Ames made a layup to put the Bears back ahead at 66-65. 

Ames’ layup would prove to be the final lead change of the game. There would not be any more scoring for nearly two minutes, but Camden slammed one down after a steal by Dort to make it 68-65.

Carr and Dort were both fouled, and both hit each of their two shots from the line. The Bears had finally taken control of the game, as they had a seven point lead at 72-65. It was the first time either team held a seven-point lead in this one.

The Bears ended up winning by a final of 79-70.

John Camden led the way with 16 points in the second half, and 25 overall. He was also 6-for-9 from beyond the arc for the game. Dai Dai Ames scored 13 points in the second half to cap off a 20-point performance. Believe it or not, Ames was only 5-for-11 in field goals for the second half, but he was 3-for-4 from beyond the arc in that same period.

The Bears are now off to a 10-1 start, their best start in 11 years.

The Bears have two games left in non-conference play. They will take on the Morgan State Bears of the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference next Friday night at Haas Pavilion. That will be followed up two days later by a Sunday matinee against the Columbia Lions of the Ivy League.

Tipoff against the Morgan State Bears next Friday will be at 7 p.m.

Cal Golden Bears remain perfect at home as they defeat the Dominican Penguins, 93-71

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Dominican Penguin guard Nanik Tagore shoots a contested three pointer over California Golden Bear Justin Pippen. (Photo credits to Michael Villanueva Sports Radio Services.)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – The California Golden Bears welcomed the Dominican Penguins on Tuesday night at Haas Pavilion, with the game starting at 7:00 p.m. in front of another loud home crowd. The game featured two clubs that were on a roll early in the season. Dominican entered the match at 5-1, riding a two-game winning run but still looking for its first road victory since losing to Stanislaus State on November 22. Cal who is piling up wins tallied another one with a win over the Penguins 93-71.

Cal started the game with a familiar lineup: John Camden, Chris Bell, Justin Pippen, Lee Dort, and Dai Dai Ames. Ames began the night as the Bears’ leading scorer, averaging 18.6 points per game while shooting 55% from the floor, while Pippen led the team in playmaking with 4.3 assists per game.

The Bears came in on a five-game winning streak and stayed perfect at home, improving to 8-0 at Haas Pavilion. With both teams playing confident basketball and looking to build on their momentum, the stage was set for an interesting nonconference matchup.

Golden Bear Justin Pippen got the game rolling on a three pointer, but things turned south real fast. The Dominican Penguins overall dominated the first half, while the Golden Bears struggled to find their offensive rhythm. Cal shot only 18% from the field, going 6-of-33, while Dominican took advantage of the Bears’ slow start with consistent execution on the opposite end. The Penguins converted 10 of their 24 shots, shooting 42% and controlling the pace for much of the game.

Cal’s shooting struggles stretched beyond the arc, with the Bears starting 1-of-14 from deep and making only 7% of their three-point efforts. Despite their poor start, the Bears came alive in the final minutes of the half. A late 6-0 offensive surge gave them a boost and cut Dominican’s lead, sending Cal into the locker room trailing 31-28.

The Golden Bears returned from the locker room with fresh energy, playing with significantly more urgency on both ends of the court. Their offense began to settle down as Cal upped its shooting to 36% for the half, including a surge from the perimeter, where they shot 26% from three. The defensive pressure also increased substantially, pushing the Penguins to make numerous blunders. Dominican had already committed 14 turnovers with six minutes remaining, allowing Cal to take control of the game.

Justin Pippen fueled the Bears’ comeback, dominating the game down the stretch. He finished with a team-high 24 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including three of seven from beyond the arc. John Camden provided an important spark as well, scoring 18 points and matching Pippen’s 6-of-14 shooting effort.

Dominican’s attack crumbled as Cal kept up the pace. The Penguins went scoreless from the field in the final five minutes, relying on free throws to keep within reach, but it wasn’t enough to slow the Bears’ momentum. Cal finished the night with a dominating 93-71 comeback win.

Nick Medeiros led the Penguins with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, but Dominican couldn’t match Cal’s second-half surge.

The California Golden Bears will return to action on December 13th, 2025 at 2pm back in the Haas Pavilion to host the Northwestern State Devils (2-7). The Bears also remain perfect at home as they are (9-1) on the season and (8-0) at home.

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman: Cal hosts Pacific Saturday; Cal on four game win streak

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Cal Bears forward Lee Dort (34) is excited at the conclusion of the win over the Utah Utes on Tue Dec 2, 2025 at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley (Cal Bears X photo)

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 With Cal Bears guards like Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen in Cal’s backcourt, how might their perimeter defense and shooting had put pressure on the Utah Utes defense?

#2 Can forwards such as Chris Bell or Lee Dort use their size advantage to dominate the paint, to limit Utah’s interior scoring, and control the boards if they face a smaller pilot front line?

#3 Given that Cal’s roster also includes centers like Milos Ilic and Mantas Kocanas, how might their presence affect Utah’s ability to drive to the rim or get second-chance points?

#4 Considering Utah’s fast-paced style, how would Cal — with a mix of experienced players like DeJuan Campbell and newcomers — aim to control tempo and avoid getting caught in a run-and-gun exchange?

#5 If Cal’s rotation extends to freshmen guards such as Luke Butler or Jorell Clark, how much trust should the team put in young players’ composure under pressure when defending a team like the Utes?

Cal Bears podcast with Stephen Ruderman is heard each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Utah Utes can’t handle the ‘Haas of Pain’ as Golden Bears win, 79-72

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California Golden Bear #34 Lee Dort slams down an alley-oop from his teammate #2 John Camden. (Photo by Michael Villanueva Sports Radio Service)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – Happy December from Berkeley, where the Golden Bears enter the final month of 2025 on the heels of a strong 6-1 start and a perfect 5-0 record at Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears have transformed their home court into a legitimate advantage as they enter a pivotal eight-game home stretch, averaging 84.4 points per game and posting a +14.8 scoring margin.

That run started tonight against Utah (6-2), a Big 12 opponent who adds importance to the matchup. Cal is 0-1 this season against Big 12 teams, with its only encounter coming on November 13 at Bramlage Coliseum, a hard-fought 99-96 loss to Kansas State. Tuesday night, the Golden Bears get a second chance to make a statement against the Big 12 conference.

Utah comes into Berkeley on a high level, having won a close 75-74 game over Ole Miss behind Don McHenry’s 27 points. The Utes have a balanced, tough squad that ranks ninth in the Big 12 for offensive rebounds (9.6 per game), topped by James Okonkwo’s 4.0. They also have one of the conference’s leading scoring duos, Terrence Brown (21.8 PPG, 3.4 APG) and McHenry (17.9 PPG).

Cal entered the game with confidence after defeating No. 18 UCLA 80-72 on November 25 at Chase Center, the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2020. Offensively, the Golden Bears continue to rely on the efficient performance of Dai Dai Ames (18.1 PPG, 2.7 threes per game at 52.8%) and Chris Bell (16.6 PPG, 50.0% shooting).

The Golden Bears’ starting lineup tonight included Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden, Chris Bell, and Lee Dort, who combine scoring, experience, and defensive versatility. Utah responded with Josh Hayes, Keanu Dawes, Terrence Brown, Don McHenry, and Seydou Traore, a group meant for athleticism, rebounding, and perimeter shooting.

The game got off to a quick start, with both sides swapping early baskets. Utah scored first on the first possession, with Terrance Brown instantly establishing himself by scoring seven points on 3-of-5 shooting. Cal’s Dai Dai Ames matched the pace right away, making all three of his first field-goal attempts and scoring seven points in the first few minutes.

Despite Utah’s early efficiency, Cal kept pace thanks to Ames, who remained perfect from the field and aggressive in his drives. By the midpoint of the first half, he had already tallied 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting.

Cal’s balanced attack and sharp shooting in the final minutes of the half propelled them ahead to a 42–34 lead at halftime. The Bears finished the first 20 minutes with 6-of-12 shooting from three and 14-of-32 overall, displaying strong teamwork with 21 rebounds and nine assists. Ames continued his dominant performance, ending the half with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting in just 15 minutes, keeping Cal in control against a talented Utah squad. With help from John Camden, who is shooting perfect beyond the arc at 3 of 3 with 9 points and 1 assist.

The second half followed the same fast-paced, physical pattern, with both teams hitting the paint and battling for every possession. Within the first ten minutes of the half, the Golden Bears had stretched their lead to 62-55, thanks to a combination of aggressive drives and excellent free-throw shooting. Both teams were repeatedly sent to the free-throw line, but Cal took advantage of their chances, going 15-of-16 for a stunning 93% conversion rate.

Cal’s scoring was led by the dynamic combo of Justin Pippen and Dai Dai Ames, who each had 17 points by this time. Pippen shot 5-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three, while Ames went 8-of-13 overall despite missing his only three-point effort. Keanu Dawes and Seydou Traore, who combined scoring and playmaking, kept Utah in play. Dawes was on the verge of a double-double, with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Traore had 12 points, 3 rebounds, and two assists.

Also, Cal maintained its domination on the glass, grabbing 30 rebounds to Utah’s 23, securing second-chance opportunities, and controlling the tempo inside the paint.

Cal’s shooting continued to click in the final minutes of the game, as the team approached 50% from the floor and maintained control of the game. Justin Pippen and Dai Dai Ames repeatedly attacked Utah’s defence, keeping the Utes’ lead barely out of reach. Utah, however, refused to go quietly. With three minutes remaining, Seydou Traore and Keanu Dawes scored rapid backdoor baskets to reduce the Bears’ lead to two points.

Cal answered at the line, with Chris Bell making 1-of-2 free throws to extend the advantage to 73-70 with a minute and a half left. At the 50-second mark, Ames was fouled on a drive and casually went 2-for-2 from the line, bringing the score to 75-70. From there, the Golden Bears’ defence took control. Utah failed to get a shot, resulting in a shot clock violation, and they missed their final four field-goal attempts. Cal’s defensive efforts, along with their efficient shooting, secured the victory.

Dai Dai Ames led all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, keeping up his strong season performance. Justin Pippen scored 23 points, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, to help secure the victory. Inside, Lee Dort anchored the paint, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring eight points. While five of Utah’s players scored in double digits, and their bench added 19 points, Cal’s mix of shooting, defensive pressure, and rebounding proved crucial.

The Golden Bears finished the game shooting 45.5% from the field, including 7-of-18 from three, proving that their balanced scoring and lockdown defence can carry them through difficult games. The 79-72 victory over Utah not only represented a great home opener for the December stretch, but it also showed Cal’s ability to produce under pressure, laying the groundwork for the future challenges in their eight-game homestand.

Looking ahead, the Golden Bears will face the Pacific Tigers (6-2) on Saturday, December 6, at 2 p.m., as part of their eight-game homestand. The game will be broadcast on ACC Extra, offering fans another opportunity to see Cal continue their December home stand and build on tonight’s hard-fought 79-72 victory against Uta

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva: Scotty would be proud Justin Pippin leads Cal in scoring with 23

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Cal Bears guard Justin Pippin (10) goes for two points against the Utah Utes at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Tue Dec 2, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 For the Cal Bears (7-1) Justin Pippin he led with 23 points in a nip and tuck game between the Utah Utes (6-3) and Bears at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.

#2 Cal held a five point lead with just 20 seconds left towards the end of the game getting some defense one a Utah ball that was deflected that avoided cutting Cal’s lead.

#3 Cal guard Dai Dai Ames finished second in scoring with 25 points his contribution was critical in keeping the Utes an arms distance as Utah tried to close the gap numerous times during the contest.

#4 The Bears avoided foul trouble in this one and didn’t have to suffer the consequences of the Utes getting to foul line to cut the lead even closer. The Bears win it by seven points 79-72.

#5 Next up the Pacific Tigers of Stockton head to Haas Pavilion in Berkeley this Sat Dec 13th to tip off against Cal. The Tigers bring a 6-2 winning record to Cal and are on a three game win streak. How do you see this match up?

Michael Villanueva is a Cal Bears beat reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips: After big loss in Big Game some tough questions for Cal; Bears face off with SMU Saturday

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Cal Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3) is helped up after getting sacked by the Stanford Cardinal defense after getting sacked in the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium on Sat Nov 23, 2025 (photo by Data Skrive)

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 Does a nine season record of 48–55 and a failure to ever post a winning conference record under former head coach Justin Wilcox justify a coaching change?

#2 Did the lopsided 31–10 loss to rival Stanford Cardinal — marked by 13 penalties for 123 yards and two fumble-return touchdowns — act as a final straw that exposed deeper issues under Wilcox’s leadership?

#3 Given that the program under Wilcox never broke through to more than eight wins in a season (last in 2019), was there a sense that Cal had plateaued and needed new leadership to compete at a higher level?

#4 With the move to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), did the program’s leadership believe Wilcox lacked the recruiting, scheme or development capabilities needed to succeed in a more competitive environment?

#5 After sustained competitiveness but not contention — and with recent seasons showing lingering offensive struggles — was the decision to fire Wilcox motivated by a desire to reset the program’s identity and expectations under fresh leadership?

Morris Phillips covered Cal Bears football each Thursday during the 2025 season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: Stanford pulls away from Cal in 2nd quarter in 31-10 win; Cal fires coach Justin Wilcox

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Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown (2) drops back on the Cal Bears in the Big Game at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto on Sat Nov 22, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 After nine years as Cal Bears head coach Justin Wilcox was fired after the loss to the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday. Cal had a 10-7 lead on Stanford but couldn’t hold the lead and were shutout by the Cardinal in the second half.

#1 The Cal Bears were in the lead early in the Big Game against the Stanford Cardinal 10-7 but that was all she wrote for Cal as the Cardinal opened up on offense scoring two touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters to put this one away.

#2 The Cardinal got offensive help in the second quarter eclipsing the Bears at 1:05 for a 14-10 lead when Stanford running back Kendrick Raphael ran for 11 yards but fumbled only to be recovered by Darrius Davis who returned it for a touchdown.

#3 Stanford defense didn’t allow Cal to score for the rest of the game shutting out Cal in the third and fourth quarters.

#4 Stanford completed all their scoring in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns a four yard carry by running back Micah Ford for four yards to take a 24-10 lead at 14:56. At 10:01 Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown threw a 34 yard touchdown pass to CJ Williams for a 31-10 final.

#5 The win was Stanford’s home win of the season. The Cardinal improve their record to 3-7 and all three of their wins came from winning at Stanford Stadium this season.

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Daniel Dullum is heard Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

128th Big Game/Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Cardinal snatch axe from paws of Golden Bears 31-10, on a cool Saturday Evening on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal players left to right defensive end Zach Buckley (98), offensive lineman Simone Pale (55), and defensive lineman Zach Rowell (97) join in the celebration of bringing the axe back to Stanford University after defeating the Cal Bears at Stanford Stadium on Sat Nov 22, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — A Big Game crowd of 50.039 experienced cross-Bay, conference (ACC) battle, with the Stanford Cardinal (4-7, 3-5 ACC) obtaining the axe from the California Golden Bears (6-5, 3-4 ACC) 31-10 inside Stanford Stadium.

Although Cal opened the game with possession of the ball, neither team scored on their opening drives. A little more than 10 minutes into the first quarter, the Golden Bears got onto the scoreboard first. Redshirt-Junior kicker Chase Meyer booted a 40-yard field goal, to put the visitors up by three, 3-0.

The first 15 minutes of gameplay ended with that same score, with either team doing much on offense, The crowd of both schools wanted and anticipated more action in the second quarter.

Quarter number two did bring more action to the masses. However, the Cardinal faithful did not see an offensive explosion, but a stellar defensive force.

A few ticks over two minutes into the second stanza, Stanford redshirt-junior safety Jay Green scooped up a Cal fumble for a49-yard touchdown. The Cardinal took a four points lead, 7-3. More than eight minutes later, Cal put up points offensively. Freshman quarterback Jason-Keawe Sagapolutele scored from 7 yards out on a keeper. The Bears regained the lead by three, 10-7..

The Cardinal marched down the field, getting inside the “Red Zone” by the two-minute timeout. After several attempts for a touchdown, they settled for a field goal attempt, with a little over a minute before recess. The kick was blocked by senior safety Dru Polidore Jr. All momentum switched to California, and Stanford’s offense and special teams could not score.

The Bears had possession of the ball in their own Bear territory, with less than a minute until halftime, and had the worst case scenario happen to the team. They coughed up the ball again, with Cardinal sophomore safety Darrius Davis grasping the gift and carrying it to paydirt for a 17 yard score. Stanford went back up by four, 14-10.

When the mid-game whistle blew, that last score stood at intermission., 14-10 Stanford.

The Cardinal had possession of the ball to start the second half, but more of the same on offense persisted. They could not get into the end zone, but did get into field goal range. Just over four minutes into the half, senior Emmett Kenney missed a 35-yard attempt, to the dismay of the home fans.

About eight minutes later he had another opportunity. This time from 36 yards from the goalposts. Kenney was successful on that particular attempt. The cardinal extended their advantage to seven, 17-10.

The Golden Bears managed to lose possession of the ball immediately upon receiving it after the Cardinal score. Stanford parlayed that golden opportunity to another score, over two quarters. They had the ball near the goal line as the third quarter ended, and continued at the beginning of the fourth.

Four seconds into the final quarter, sophomore running back Micah Ford scampered in for a 4-yard TD. The Cardinal went up by 14 points, 24-10. They were not finished.

Less than two minutes of elapsed time, the Cardinal reached the end zone again. This score was a 34 yard bomb from Elijah Brown to CJ Williams for SIX. with the subsequent extra point, the Cardinal tied their high score output of 31 points. They also led by 21 points. 31-10.

Despite Cal’s efforts to score again in the waning moments, the score remained the same after 60 minutes of regulation play, 31-10 for the Tree.

The Cardinal will next be in action back here on the Farm next Saturday, November 29, hosting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 7:30 PM PT on ESPN. Cal heads back across the Bay to host SMU on the same date at TBD.

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman: Cal runs away with another win defeats Sac State at Haas

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Cal Bears forward Chris Bell (22) throws down against the Sacramento State Hornets at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Fri Nov 21, 2025 (Cal Bears MBB X photo)

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Cal Bears (5-1) ran away with this one Friday night at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley defeating the Sacramento State Hornets (3-4) 91-67. The Bears in the first half had a 47-33 lead coming away the half.

#2 The Bears got lots of offense Friday night with four players finishing in double figures, Chris Bell 21, Justin Pippin 16, and Dai Dai Ames 16 points and John Camden 14.

#3 The Bears controlled the boards, the paint, the passing game and held the Hornets in check stopping any kind of come back.

#4 The Hornets were just froze out in the second half at one point the Bears had a 20 point lead on them in the second half. The Bears scoring leader from Tuesday night John Camden was the last Bear to get into double figures.

#5 It’s off to Chase Center in San Francisco and the UCLA Bruins on Tue Nov 25th. The two former Pac 12 teams will tip off at 7:00pm. The Bruins have won five of their last six games and have won three of their last five games.

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

Chris Bell scores 21 in 91-67 Cal route of Sac State

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Taking a jump shot the Cal Bears Dai Dai Ames (7) against the visiting Sacramento State Hornets at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Fri Nov 21, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Sacramento State Hornets 67 (3-4)

California Golden Bears 91 (5-1)

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–Chris Bell had a big night with 21 points, and the Bears obliterated the Sacramento State Hornets 91-66

The Hornets made the trek from just up the road in Sacramento for this one. Despite the fact that the Hornets are in the lesser-known Big Sky Conference, there are some big names surrounding that team.

Former NBA point guard Mike Bibby became the team’s head coach during the spring. Bibby then brought in Hall-of-Famer—and former rival from their Kings v Lakers days—Shaquielle O’Neal to be the team’s general manager. Shaq’s son, Shaqir O’Neal, committed to play at Sac State, and played Friday night.

The fact that the Bears were playing another lesser-known team was no guarantee. In fact, Cal had to fight their way to a 67-57 win over the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Tuesday.

No one scored in the first minute of the game, but Dai Dai Ames hit a three to open the scoring for the Bears. Then, we suddenly had a lot of action. In fact, it looked like we were going to have a hard-fought struggle on our hands, as O’Neal hit a three to give the Hornets a 12-8 lead.

John Camden hit a three to put the Bears back ahead. Chris Bell then scored two with a dunk, and hit a three to open Cal’s lead to 18-12.

While the Hornets gave the impression that this would be a close one, this one would turn out to be all Bears. The Bears had opened up a 23 point lead—43-20—with 5:09 remaining in the first half.

To give the Hornets’ credit, they kept fighting. Sac State went on a 13-4 run to close the gap to 47-33 at the half.

John Camden hit a three to start the second half, and Lee Dort followed that up with a dunk. Mark Lavrenov was fouled, and hit two from the line to get two points for Sac State. However, Camden and Dore shined in the early minutes of the second half to put the game away. The Bears had their 23-point lead back—58-35—just under three minutes into the second half.

The Bears eventually expanded their lead to 34—81-47—with 8:59 to go. From there, I guess the Bears were a bit nice, as the Hornets did close out the game with a 20-10 run to make it a 91-67 final for just a measly 24-point win for the Bears.

Though, you could say there was some drama at the end of the game. Mantas Kocanas was holding the ball for the Bears in the final seconds, and two Hornets were trying to steal it from him. After getting tired of it, Kocanas just threw the ball off the legs of Taj Glover, and Kocanas got hit with a tech. I have no clue if it was serious or playful, but nothing came out of it, and Glover hit both shots from the line.

It was Chris Bell’s night. In addition to his 21 points, Bell was 7-for-11 in field goals. Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen both scored 16. John Camden, who scored 20 points in Cal’s win against Presbyterian on Tuesday, scored 14 Friday night.

The Bears have once again taken advantage of non-conference play to get off to a 5-1 start for the second-straight year.

However, things will be a bit tougher for the Bears, as they will take on their old Pac-12 rivals, the 19th-ranked UCLA Bruins, across the bay at the Chase Center in San Francisco next Tuesday night. Tipoff will be at 7 p.m.