Tag: Cal Bears basketball

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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.

Bears remain Golden & Undefeated at home as they beat Pacific Tigers, 67-61

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Pacific Tigers Justin Rochelin (1) drives to the paint for a layup, but is heavily contested on defense by Golden Bears Chris Bell (22) (Photo by Michael Villanueva Sports Radio Service)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY -Happy first Saturday of December in the Berkeley Hills, where the Cal Bears defeated the Pacific Tigers 67-61 in a matinee where they had faced off at 2 p.m Saturday afternoon. In a game featuring two teams on four-game winning streaks.

Pacific enters the weekend on a roll, having won four straight games, including a solid 80-65 road win over the Air Force Falcons on December 3. Elias Ralph had dropped 31 points in Pacific’s victory. The Tigers have held their own on the road, going 2-2 and averaging 75.0 points per game while outscoring opponents by 10.0 points.

On the other side, the Golden Bears have been nearly untouchable at Haas Pavilion, boasting a perfect 6–0 record on their home floor. Cal is also fresh off a high win, taking down the University of Utah 79–72 on December 2nd to extend its win streak to four. Dai Dai Ames had dropped 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting on the floor. Head coach Mark Madsen enters this matchup 0–1 against Pacific, with his first-ever loss as Cal’s head coach coming against the Tigers two years ago — a result he and the Golden Bears will look to avenge this afternoon.

These teams last met on November 10th, 2023, when Pacific defeated Cal in Berkeley 87-79. Despite the loss, the Golden Bears have a 27-3 series lead as they prepare to defend their home floor once again. The Bears are on game #2 out of their 8 game homestand that will end on January 2nd, 2026.

The Pacific Tigers’ starting lineup included a good blend of size and guard play. In the frontcourt, Elias Ralph and Isaac Jack provide length, rebounding activity, and interior presence. Justin Rochelin, Kajus Kublickas, and TJ Wainwright make up the Tigers’ backcourt trio, providing the team with ball-handling, perimeter scoring, and defensive versatility to start the afternoon.

The Golden Bears’ starting lineup has a good combination of guard play and frontcourt size. In the backcourt, Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen play guard, providing Cal with a dangerous scoring and playmaking pair. Lee Dort, John Camden, and DeJuan Campbell complete the starting lineup, offering rebounding, interior strength, and midrange shooting. Dort is Cal’s leading rebounder, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game, while Pippen leads the team in assists with 4.6. This was also DeJuan Campbell’s first start of the season.

From tip-off to the first five minutes, the Golden Bears struck first. Cal got on the board after Pacific’s Justin Rochelin was called for a personal foul on Dai Dai Ames, who went 1-of-2 from the line for the afternoon’s opening points. The Bears quickly established an aggressive tone by applying high-energy, full-court pressure that caught the Tigers off guard. Pacific’s first offensive possession resulted in a turnover, and with Cal’s defense swarming and controlling the pace early on, the Tigers were forced to call a quick timeout just four minutes into the game.

The Tigers struggled to find their flow after the timeout, going on a four-minute scoring drought and committing numerous turnovers, including shot-clock violations. Pacific’s only source of offence was Isaac Jack, who scored all six of the Tigers’ points in the first eight minutes of the game with quick, decisive finishes in the lane. Aside from Jack’s production, Pacific struggled to find a rhythm, going 4-of-17 from the field in the first 10 minutes (24%).

Meanwhile, the Golden Bears continued to put pressure on both ends. Cal’s offense was on fire, shooting an efficient 9-of-13 (69%) from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc (67%) as they gained early momentum and controlled the game’s pace.

The Tigers slowly settled into an offensive rhythm, thanks to Isaac Jack’s ability to create easy looks in the paint. Pacific began using him as a focal point at the top of the key, allowing the rest of the offence to either cut to the hoop or spread out on the perimeter. The change provided much-needed momentum, as the Tigers connected on three consecutive offensive opportunities, cutting the lead to ten points.

Cal, on the other hand, remained in control for the majority of the half thanks to its strong shooting and efficient passing. John Camden, Justin Pippen, Chris Bell, and Lee Dort all scored more than five points early, providing the Bears a variety of scoring options and stretching Pacific’s defence. Despite their great start, the Golden Bears experienced a three-minute scoring drought late in the half.

At halftime, Cal led 36-27. Despite Pacific’s 14-rebound advantage, which was mostly driven by Jack’s inside presence, the Tigers’ persistent shooting struggles prevented them from narrowing the distance. Pacific entered the half shooting only 33% from the floor, but the Golden Bears maintained their lead by impacting the game defensively and shooting over 45% in all categories.

The Golden Bears scored first again in the second half, this time with Justin Pippen hitting a free throw after drawing a personal foul on Kajus Kublickas, going 1-for-1 from the line. Cal remained true to its defensive identity, sticking with tight man-to-man coverage while adding a 3-2 pressure zone that extended high and interrupted Pacific’s early drives.

Despite their defensive persistence, the Bears struggled offensively, going 0-for-5 within the first five minutes. The Tigers took the opportunity and began playing with significantly more composure than they had in the first half. Pacific moved the ball with patience, attacked from better angles, and discovered cleaner looks.

The momentum changed quickly. The Tigers put together an 8-0 field goal run, cutting Cal’s lead to five points. TJ Wainwright started the charge with back-to-back three-pointers, giving energy and trust in Pacific’s bench. Meanwhile, Isaac Jack continued his strong effort inside, recording a double-double with 10 minutes left in the game.

Pacific refused not give up in the dying minutes, battling till the final whistle. The Tigers put together a late run, scoring six straight points to cut the lead to three, putting the Golden Bears on high alert. But when they needed it the most, Cal’s defence tightened. Pacific went scoreless on its final three offensive opportunities, and Lee Dort delivered the dagger – a game-winning block on Tigers guard Jaden Clayton that ended Pacific’s final effort to win the game.

The Golden Bears hung on for a 67-61 victory.  Justin Pippen led all Cal scorers with 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Dai Dai Ames matched his scoring ability with 15 points on 4-of-8 from the field to anchor the backcourt.

The Tigers were led by Isaac Jack, who had 19 points and 16 rebounds, controlling the post on both ends and keeping Pacific in reach all afternoon. TJ Wainwright also reached double figures, scoring 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including a pair of crucial three-pointers that sparked the Tigers’ second-half surge.

The Pacific Tigers are now 7-3 and will return home to Stockton, California, on Thursday, November 13th, to meet the Simpson University Red Hawks. The Tigers will look to build on their competitive performance today and continue their quest for consistency on both sides of the court in front of their home crowd.

The Golden Bears remain undefeated at home, going 7-0 at Haas Pavilion and 8-1 overall this season. Cal will return home to face the Dominican Penguins on Tuesday, December 9th, at 7:00 p.m., hoping to extend their unbeaten record in Berkeley and build on their excellent start to the season.

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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 Berkeley off to 3-0 start after defeating CSU Fullerton, 93-65

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

California Golden Bear Rytis Petraitis, takes it to the paint on an acrobat layup against, CSU Titan Landon Seaman. (Photo Credit to Sports Radio Services Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY, Calif. – The California Golden Bears entered Monday night’s game at Haas Pavilion looking to keep their undefeated streak going. The Bears entered 2-0 after a win over Wright State, while the Titans arrived following a 92-82 loss to Wyoming only two days earlier.

California used the same starting lineup of Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden, Chris Bell, and Lee Dort. Ames, who led the Golden Bears in scoring early this season with 20.5 points per game, continued to set the offensive tone as Cal worked to extend its unbeaten streak. Cal’s head coach, Mark Madsen, entered and left the game, recording his 100th career win as a head coach.

Cal State Fullerton’s starting lineup was Davis White, Joshua Ward, Bailey Nunn, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, and Kendrick De Luna. The Titans were coming off a 92-82 loss to Wyoming two days prior, with Bryce Cofield leading the way with 21 points. Although Cofield did not start in the matchup against Berkeley. The Titans are 0-2 all-time against Cal and have played them only on the road.

California took no time in setting the tone, coming out firing from beyond the arc. The Golden Bears took an early 12-7 lead over Cal State Fullerton by hitting four straight three-pointers. Dai Dai Ames caught fire right on, shooting three triples in the first three minutes, while John Camden added five points of his own to fuel Cal’s fast start.

Ames and Camden combined for all 19 of Cal’s points in the first 10 minutes, with Ames scoring 11 and Camden scoring eight, creating confidence across the Bears’ roster. Justin Pippen led the attack with four assists, while Lee Dort battled inside on the glass, allowing Cal to keep control.

In the closing ten minutes of the first half, both sides tightened up defensively, but Cal’s ball movement kept them efficient. Despite Fullerton’s pressure, the Bears shot 6-for-11 from three-point range (54.5 percent). The Titans relied on transition opportunities, with Joshua Ward scoring six points on fast breaks to close the gap to eight points at one point.

Bryce Cofield had a flagrant one penalty for an elbow during a drive, stopping Fullerton’s momentum. Cal missed four consecutive baskets in the final two minutes, but dominated the boards and maintained defensive discipline, securing a 42-27 halftime lead.

The Bears went into the locker room with Dai Dai Ames leading the way with 13 points, establishing the tone for the second half.

Cal State Fullerton came from the locker room with the same energy that California had displayed earlier in the game. The Titans went on a 6-0 run to start the half, hoping to reduce the Bears’ halftime lead.

Berkeley, on the other hand, responded fast, establishing a rhythm from the start. The Golden Bears connected on two more sets of three-pointers, slowing Fullerton’s momentum and regaining control of the game. Within the first three minutes, California led 50-38.

Cal ended up having a lead of 67-46 before the halfway point of the second half, thanks to hustle, defensive effort, and balanced scoring.

Dai Dai Ames led the way with 19 points, John Camden added 14, and Justin Pippen had 10 points and 5 assists. Lee Dort and Chris Bell controlled the boards, grabbing 7 and 5 rebounds, respectively, limiting Fullerton’s second-chance opportunities.

The last stretch showed which squad was determined to finish strong. California refused to let up, playing with intensity on both ends of the floor. The Golden Bears increased their lead to 29 points, capitalizing on Fullerton’s troubles from the field.

The Titans struggled to find their rhythm, ending their shooting 27-for-69 (39%), while Berkeley capitalized on turnovers and lack of effort. Chris Bell was especially good at clearing the glass and forcing turnovers while also contributing to the Bears’ scoring surge as the fourth player to reach double digits.

Ames’ three-point shooting was the night’s highlight, going 6-for-7 (85.7%), while Justin Pippen nearly had a triple-double with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, displaying his leadership on both sides of the court. Almost the whole starting five scored in double figures, showcasing Cal’s balanced and overpowering offensive performance.

With this dominant victory, the Golden Bears improved to 3-0 on the season while also marking Mark Madsen’s 100th career win as a head coach, a milestone in a program that is off to a good start. This is also Mark Madsen’s first 3-0 start at UC Berkeley.

The final attendance at Haas Pavilion was 2,377 as the Golden Bears secured a dominating home win. California now prepares for its first road game of the season, going to Manhattan, Kansas, to face Kansas State University (2-0).

Head coach Mark Madsen expressed excitement for the game during his post-game conference, stating he’s looking forward to “the battle and the test” and couldn’t wait to see what the Bears can do against a great Kansas State squad. The two teams will face off on Thursday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m.

With an outstanding 93-65 victory over Cal State Fullerton and a perfect 3-0 start, Berkeley will aim to create energy as they faces one of the premier Big 12 programs early in the season.

Golden Bears work overtime to beat Hurricanes 98-94

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cal Bears guard Christian Tucker (22) lets everyone know that guard Jeremiah Wilkinson (0) scored 30 points in their win over the Miami Hurricanes at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Jan 25, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Thanks to big nights from Jeremiah Wilkinson and DJ Campbell, California held off Miami (Fla.) 98-94 in overtime Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball at Haas Pavilion.

Wilkinson bagged a career-high 30 points and Campbell scored a season-high 22 points to lead the Golden Bears (11-9 overall, 4-5 ACC). Wilkinson was 10 of 22 – including one 3 – from the field and 9 of 10 at the line. Campbell hit 5 of 12 shooting with 9 of 11 free throws.

Javan Blacksher Jr. Scored 11 points and Mady Sissoko grabbed 10 of the Golden Bears’ 41 rebounds in a game had 11 lead changes and was tied 10 times.

The Hurricanes (4-16 overall, 0-9 ACC) forced overtime when Matthew Cleveland took an inbounds pass and hit a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game at 79-79.

In overtime, Campbell tallied six points during a 9-2 Cal run that gave the Golden Bears an 88-81 lead. Cal stretched its lead to 94-86 with 24 seconds left in the extra period. Miami wasn’t finished, however, as A.J. Staton-McCray sank back-to-back 3-pointers, pulling the Hurricanes to within 95-92 before Cal put the game away at the foul line.

Cleveland led the Hurricanes with 30 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Brandon Johnson added 16 points and eight boards. Paul Djobet scored 12 points and Jalil Bethea had 11 points and six rebounds.

Cal travels to Dallas Wednesday to face Southern Methodist for a 

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal gets turned around in landslide loss to Duke 72-38; Bears third loss of the season

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Cal Bears Gisella Maul (12) drives on the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham on Thu Jan 16, 2025 (Cal Women’s basketball photo)

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris the Duke Blue Devils (14-4) made easy work of the Cal Bears (16-3) with a 72-38 win. The contest was not even close and the Bears didn’t get much offense was it a matter of the Bears shot was off or was it that the Blue Devils defense just was in command all night?

#2 Duke’s Toby Fournier was a scoring machine leading with 23 points and she did it all coming off the bench.

#3 Cal tried hard as they may to try and shut down Duke’s Ashlon Jackson who finished second in scoring with 16 and Reigan Richardson with third with 14.

#4 Cal’s scoring was not their previous games nobody finished in double figures. The top three scorers were Kayla Williams with eight, Ugonne Onyiah and Natalia Ackerman both with six. It just seem on one could get past that intimidating Duke defense.

#5 Cal will try it all over again against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-10) on Sunday with an 11:00AM PST tip. Wake Forest are coming off a tough loss to the Stanford Cardinal 74-71 tonight. Wake Forest are last in the ACC and have lost five in a row. Cal is coming in none too happy after the loss to Duke so Wake Forest will no doubt have their work cut out for them.

Cal Bears podcasts with Morris Phillips are heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal’s second-half comeback falls short in 71-68 loss to Hokies

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cal Bears guard Andrej Stojakovic guard (2) goes for the throw down against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Haas Pavilion on Sat Jan 11, 2025 (Cal Bears photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Despite a valiant Comeback, California came up short in its men’s basketball game against Virginia Tech, as the Hokies earned a 71-68 Atlantic Coast Conference victory at Haas Pavilion.

It was Cal’s sixth loss in its last eight games.

The Golden Bears (8-8 overall, 1-4 ACC) were down 22 points in the second half. Cal’s Andrej Stojakovic scored 22 of his game-high 24 points to spark the Golden Bears late rally. Stojakovic’s 3-point attempt rimmed out as time expired.

Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 14 points for Cal, including 11 in the second half. Stojakovic and Wilkinson combined to score 30 of the Golden Bears’ last 31 points of the game.

Jayden Young was the top scorer for Virginia Tech with 14 points, while Tyler Johnson turned in a double-double (11 points and 12 rebounds) for the Hokies (7-9 overall, 2-3 ACC).

The Golden Bears missed their first 13 shots of the game, trailing 15-4 early, eventually trailing 42-33 at halftime. Cal was trailing by 21 seven minutes into the second half when it used a 26-7 run, and tied the game at 58-58 with 6:03 remaining. Virginia Tech reeled off a 9-0 run to maintain the lead for good.

Next weekend, the Golden Bears travel to Tobacco Road for ACC games against North Carolina on Wednesday (4 p.m.) and North Carolina State on Saturday (3 p.m.).

Wilkinson and Stojakovic combined for 44 points, as Bears beat Air Force 78-69 to continue hot start

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cal Bears guard Jeremiah Wilkinson (0) takes the ball up the floor against the Air Force Falcons at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thu Nov 21, 2024 (Cal Bears photo)

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Air Force Falcons 69 (1-4)

California Golden Bears 78 (4-1)

By Stephen Ruderman

Jeremiah Wilkinson had his coming out party, as he scored 23 points, and along with a 21-point night by Andrej Stojakovic, led the Bears to a 78-69 win over the Air Force Falcons at Haas Pavilion to continue the team’s hot start.

While out on the road last week, the Bears suffered their first loss of the season at Vanderbilt last Wednesday. However, they bounced back by pulling off a 71-66 win at USC on Saturday.

The Bears returned home and welcomed the Air Force Falcons to Haas Pavilion, as they looked to build on their strong start to the season. The Falcons got off a quick 4-0 lead out of the gate, as Ethan Taylor hit a jumper, and Byron Brown laid one in. Andrej Stojakovic then hit a turnaround jumper to get the Bears on the board just over two minutes in.

Cal jump ahead 8-4, but the Falcons quickly came back to take an 11-9 lead. Jeremiah Wilkinson, who checked in with 13:08 to go, made a layup to tie it at 11-11.

The Bears then jumped out to a 30-15 lead with 5:26 to go. The Falcons then closed out the first half with a 12-5 lead to cut Cal’s lead almost in half, and the Bears took a 35-27 lead into the half.

Wilkinson had only scored 13 points in the Bears’ first four games, but he scored nine points in the first half tonight. Rytis Petraitis led the Bears in scoring in the first half with 11 points.

Andrej Stojakovic only scored five points in the first half, but he came alive in the second half. Stojakovic scored seven of the Bear’s eight points in the opening five minutes of the second half, but the Falcons had cut the lead to 45-40.

Wilkinson, who had checked back in early in the second half, carried his mojo over and hit a pair of layups to make it 49-41. However, the Falcons scored six unanswered points to close it to just a two-point game at 49-47.

From there, the Bears would start to pad their lead again. Wilkinson, Stojakovic and Dort led the charge, and in a matter of minutes, the Bears were back to a 10-point lead at 62-52.

The Bears made it 66-52. Like in the first half, the Falcons made a late run to close the lead to seven, but Cal still won comfortably by a final of 78-69.

Stojakovic scored 16 points in the second half, and was 6-for-9 in field goals after going an abysmal 2-for-10 in the first half. Lee scored eight points in the second half, and he, Stojakovic and Wilkinson combined for 38 of the Bears’ 43 points in the second half.

Wilkinson scored 14 in the second half to cap off his 23-point night. He was 8-for-12 in field goals on the night, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Stojakovic finished just behind Wilkinson with 21 points, and Lee ended up with 12.

The Bears improve to 4-1, and they will look to keep it going when they take on the Sacramento State Hornets at Haas Pavilion on Sunday. Tipoff will be at 1 p.m.

Bears stave off disaster with another painful win over Trojans in overtime 83-77

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Cal Bears forward Grant Newell (14) and guard Jalen Cone (15) jump for joy as the Bears defeated the USC Trojans in OT for Cal’s tenth win of the season at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Wed Feb 7, 2024 (Cal Bears photo)

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

USC Trojans 77 (9-14 Overall; 3-9 Pac-12)

California Golden Bears 83 (10-13 Overall; 6-6 Pac-12)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Bears dodged a bullet, and beat the USC Trojans in overtime, 83-77, to cap off yet another painful win in what was their first win against USC in over seven years.

The Bears returned home following a convincing win over the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe on Saturday to host a USC Trojans team, who had beaten the Bears in each of their previous 11 matchups.

There would be no scoring in the first minute of the game, but Cal struck first with a dunk and jumper from Fardaws Aimaq. Arrinten Page laid one in to put USC on the board, and Joshua Morgan hit a jumper to tie it, 4-4.

Aimaq hit a jumper to put the Bears back ahead at 6-4, as he scored each of the Bears’ first six points tonight, and the two teams remained neck and neck for the next several minutes.

The Bears led 22-21 when Grant Newell was fouled with 8:34 remaining in the first half, and Newell made both shots from the line. From there, Jalen Cone took off, as he hit back-to-back-to-back threes to open up a 33-25 lead for the Bears.

Cone went for fourth-straight three, and was fouled, but he then hit all three shots from the line to make it 36-25 with 5:39 to go.

The Trojans then made a charge, and scored six unanswered points to cut Cal’s lead to 36-31. However, Aimaq made a pair of dunks, and Newell made a jumper, as the Bears went into the half with a 6-0 run to open their lead back to 11 at 42-31.

The Bears carried their momentum into the second half, as Jalen Celestine hit a three ball, and Jaylon Tyson laid one in, as the Bears’ run extended to 11-0 to make it 47-31. Boogie Ellis was fouled and made one of two from the line, and DJ Rodman, the son of NBA Hall-of-Famer Dennis Rodman, laid one in to give USC a reprieve.

The Trojans then started to slowly chip away at the Bears’ lead. Tyson made a jumper and a layup, but a three-ball by Kobe Johnson cut the lead to 51-39 with 15:32 remaining.

From there, there would not be any scoring for nearly three minutes until Rodman hit a three to make it 51-42. Isaiah Collier made a layup; was fouled; and then hit his shot from the line to cut the Bears’ lead to just six at 51-45.

The Bears were now in danger of blowing another big lead. However, they responded swiftly with a 7-2 run, which featured a three by Tyson; a jumper by Celestine; and a layup by Keonte Kennedy, as the Bears opened their lead back up to 58-47 with 9:05 to go.

Collier then went on a show, and scored seven unanswered points to make it 58-54. Tyson laid one in, and hit one from the line after being fouled on the play, but the Trojans were relentless, as Morgan slammed one down, and Collier hit a layup and a pair of free throws to make it just a one-point game at 61-60.

Once again, there the Bears were on the verge of blowing yet another big lead in a season that has seen them do so so many times. However, Tyson and Cone each hit threes to make it 67-62 with 1:58 remaining, and things were looking good for the Bears.

However, these were the 2023-2024 California Golden Bears, and there was going to be more pain for the Bears and their fans in this one. Ellis and Rodman each made layups to make it 67-66. Tyson and Aimaq each missed layups, and Collier was fouled and made one of two at the line to tie it, 67-67 with 27 seconds to go.

After an intentional foul, Jaylon Tyson missed a three at the buzzer, and we were headed to overtime.

So there you had it, another blown lead for the Bears in this wild roller coaster ride of a season. However, through all the pain, there has been tremendous excitement and glory, and we were about to see whether the Bears had anymore in them.

Aimaq was fouled and made one of two from the line to start overtime, but Ellis laid one in to give the Trojans the lead, 69-68. It was USC’s first lead since Bronny James, the son of NBA star Lebron James, who was in attendance at Haas Pavilion tonight, hit a three to put them up 14-13 in the early part of the first half.

Tyson slammed one down to put the Bears back ahead, but Collier drew a foul and hit two from the line to do the same for USC. Tyson was fouled and hit two from the line, and then Collier was fouled, but only hit one from the line, as the game was tied, 72-72.

Jalen Celestine lit up the sellout crowd at Haas Pavilion with a three to put Cal up 75-72, but of course the Trojans were not going to make this easy. Following a layup by Kobe Johnson, Cone hit a three to make it 78-74, but go figure, Rodman hit a three to make it 78-77 with 36 seconds remaining.

Kennedy then drew a foul, and he hit both from the line to make it 80-77. Aimaq blocked a layup by Collier; then Celestine took the rebound, and was fouled. Celestine made one of two from the line to make it 81-77.

After Rodman missed a three, USC had no choice but to foul Celestine, who took the rebound, but Celestine made both from the line, and Bears held on to win it, 83-77.

Just another painful win for the Bears, who have had so many of them in a comeback season following their second-worst in team history. But hey, if you’re going to have even a close-to-.500 season following a 3-29 season, there is going to be a lot of pain. That’s just how it goes.

With this win, the Bears have won four of their last five. They improve to .500 in conference play at 66, and improve to 10-13 overall. This is also Cal’s first win against USC since Jan. 8, 2017, which was during the Bears’ last winning season.

As for the individual players, Jaylon Tyson had an incredible night, as he scored 27 points. Jalen Cone was also pretty solid with a 20-point performance. Isaiah Collier scored 20, and DJ Rodman scored 17 for USC. Bronny James did hit that three early in the first half, but he only scored five on the night in front of his old man.

Now the Bears will welcome the UCLA Bruins into the House of Pain for a 2:30 p.m. tipoff on Saturday.

Wildcats too much for Bears, as Arizona clobbers Cal 91-65

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Cal Bears Fardaws Aimaq (right) tries to contain the Arizona Wildcats Oumar Ballo (left) in the first half at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson on Thu Feb 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024

McKale Memorial Center, Tucson, Arizona

California Golden Bears 65 (8-13 Overall; 4-6 Pac-12)

Arizona Wildcats 91 (16-5 Overall; 7-3 Pac-12)

By Stephen Ruderman

Coming into Tuscson to play the 11th-ranked Arizona Wildcats proved to be too much for the Bears, as they were clobbered by Arizona, 91-65 .

Following a pair of thrilling late wins, the Bears were headed to Arizona to play the number-11 Wildcats

Arizona won the opening tip, and Caleb Love hit a jumper right away. Oumar Ballo followed that up with a second-chance layup to give the Wildcats an early 4-0 lead. Fardaws Aimaq hit a three-ball to put Cal on the board, but that proved to be their only real action of the night.

From there, the Wildcats just took off. Ballo led the way, as Arizona jumped out to a 16-6 lead just four minutes and 11 seconds into the game.

The Bears made a slight bit of noise. Jalen Celestine hit a three, and Rodney Brown Jr. laid one in to cut the deficit to 17-11, but the Wildcats pounded the Bears into submission from there.

The Wildcats went on a 12-0 run to open it to 29-11, and they kept going, as they went into the half up 48-28.

The Bears did chip away at Arizona’s lead a bit in the early minutes of the second half. Celestine made a three to make it 54-39 with 15:56 to go. Cal has come back from some significant deficits throughout this season, and they certainly believed they could tonight.

However, the Wildcats were simply too good. Ballo made a hookshot and a second-chance layup immediately after Celestine’s three, and Arizona put the game away for good, as they ended up winning it by 26 points at 91-65.

Almost everything has been a team effort for the Bears this season. There have not been too many games where one player dominated the scoring. This has been the case in wins and losses.

Tonight was no different with Cal’s stagnant offense. Jalen Celestine led the scoring with just 13 points, and was 5-for-10 in field goals. Brown scored 12, and Aimaq and Jaylon Tyson each scored 10.

Ballo had the big night for Arizona, scoring 22 points, and going a perfect 8-for-8 in field goals. Keshad Johnson had a solid night with 15 points, and KJ Lewis scored 14.

The Bears fall to 4-7 in Pac-12 play, and fall to 8-13 overall, as they will now head northwest up Interstate-10 to Tempe, where they will take on the Arizona State Sun Devils for a noon tipoff on Saturday.