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Santa Cruz Warriors Fall to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, 108-99

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Santa Cruz Warriors guard (#77) Taevion Kinsey shoots a three-pointer in the 1st quarter against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on March 19th, 2026, at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, CA.

By Michael Villanueva

SANTA CRUZ – Sea Dubs lost their first home game of the week, with still one more scheduled home game ahead this week on Saturday. The team lost against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Thursday, March 19th, at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Before this loss, Santa Cruz was already riding the wrong waves, as the team was on a 5-game losing streak prior. Going up against a team like the Vipers, which currently sits in 3rd place in the West, is a big challenge, with the team having just three more home games left. So, this wasn’t the result the Warriors were expecting in their home, with the final score being 108-99.

The Vipers’ last five games were 3-2, with their most recent game on March 17th being a loss to the Texas Legends, 108-104. Sea Dubs are holding a solid home record at 7-7. While the Vipers’ record on the road hasn’t been what the team wanted, 6-9. The NBA G League season is reaching its last five to six games of the season. Vipers are trying to hold 3rd place since the playoffs hold the top six teams in each conference. While the Sea Dubs are trying to keep swimming and fighting to get into the sixth spots, they’re currently in tenth place in the West.

The Sea Dubs started with guards Chance McMillian, Taevion Kinsey, forwards Jack Clark, Jacksen Moni, and center Marques Brown. Guard Chance McMillian is averaging 16.58 points per game and was hoping to carry the Sea Dubs to a win. Especially since Santa Cruz is 6-4 against the Vipers in the last 10 games played against each other.

Vipers sent out guards John Knight III, Daishen Nix, forwards Tristen Newton (2W), Cameron Matthews, and center Chase Jeter. Rio Grande is 2 games behind 1st place, South Bay Lakers, so any win count and helps at this point for them.

Right at tip-off, both teams were able to knock down three-pointers that got the fans in Kaiser loud and on their feet. However, it would be the Sea Dubs taking the early lead in the game due to them being more disciple and smart on their shot selection. Especially since they were shooting above 50% early in the game in all of their categories. While the Vipers were a little distraught at first, being on the road. Halfway through the 1st quarter, the Sea Dubs would hold a 7-point lead, 20-13.

Santa Cruz hustle was showing as they were leading in rebounds with 14 compared to Rio Grande’s 8 rebounds. Also, the Sea Dubs’ defense was on display as they had 4 blocks in the 1st. However, the Vipers would hit three three-pointers, which was able to put them back in the game. So with that, the Warriors and Vipers were tied, 26-26.

2nd quarter, the Warriors would become sloppy and careless with the ball at times. They already have 5 turnovers halfway through the 2nd quarter. Giving a helping hand to the Vipers as they were down by 1 point, 35-34, with 6 minutes left. Warriors forward Jacksen Moni would go on a solo 5-0 scoring run that sparked a scoring sequence for both teams. Also, with 4 minutes and thirty seconds left, the Vipers would take the lead by 1 point and push it to 3 points with an easy lay-up. A silent killer for the Warriors is their turnovers, with them having 8 versus Viper’s 1.

At halftime, the Vipers would lead the Sea Dubs, 56-42. A big scoring outbreak for the Vipers is going on, with a 14-5 scoring run to help extend their lead. With help on the Warriors’ end, due to them now having 14 turnovers. Rio Grande was able to get easy transition buckets and turnover points. The Warriors’ three-point shooting also wasn’t on their side. They were shotting 15.8%, going 3-of-19 on their attempts. The Warriors plan to come back from half more disciplined and determined to secure a home win this Thursday evening.

Vipers came out of the half ready to play and ultimately get the win. They would push their lead to one of the biggest in the night at 18 points. Vipers’ shooting and scoring was in well displayed as they pushed to find their inside man in the paint to get an easy bucket. With that, the Vipers would go on and score 40 of their points down there. So halfway through the 3rd quarter, the Warriors were down 14 points to the Vipers, 74-60.

After almost being down by 22 points in the final minutes of the 3rd quarter. The Warriors were able to still show some fight left in them. They would be able to drop the lead to 10 points entering the last quarter of the game. The Warriors’ turnovers would go to 17 in the game. So if Santa Cruz wants to get this win in their home, they’ll have to play smart in the final minutes.

The Warriors would open the fourth quarter by making their first two shot attempts. Then followed up by a big three-pointer by guard Chance McMillian to cut the lead by 5 points. A lot of back and fourth shots were taking place as both teams were trying all of their efforts to get this win. The Vipers’ defense showed out as they were able to pick up some crucial steals. The team would finish with 12 steals over the Warriors’ 4 steals.

In the final 2 minutes of play, the Warriors were down by 9 points, 104-95. Santa Cruz was really beating themselves as turnovers were, and they’re not making shots was the reason they were never able to regain the lead. Although it was impressive to see them almost come back from 22 points, especially in the 3rd quarter. Vipers would win the first one this week, 108-99. The Warriors were led by guard Chance McMillian with 17 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds.

Santa Cruz Warriors will come back to their home on Saturday, March 21st, to play once again, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The game time for that one will be at 7 p.m. on NBCSBA+. The Sea Dubs are now on a 6-game losing streak, so with their rematch against the Vipers. They look to get at least a win for their home crowd this week and snap that streak.

Golden Bears Tame the UIC Flames in their Return to the NIT in 9 years, 91-73

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California Golden Bear forward (#22) Chris Bell shots a midrange jumper in the 1st half of an NIT 1st Round Game in the New Mexico Bracket Region at Berkeley in Haas Pavilion on March 18th, 2026. (Photo Credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – The Golden Bears aren’t done! Cal’s regular season might’ve ended, but something bigger, exciting, and thrilling has come to their home, postseason action! Berkeley was invited to play in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and is being identified as one of the four power conference teams in this tournament. They hosted the University of Illinois Chicago Flames at the Haas Pavilion at 8 p.m. Not only was the sun shining on the Bears this spring, but also to the flames. As this was the Golden Bears 10th appearance in the NIT, with their last appearance being 9 years. While this was the Flames 2nd ever appearance in this tournament dating back to their first time in 23 years (2003). This first round action was intense, going back and fourth, making each possession count, but with homecourt advantage here in Berkeley. The Golden Bears would win the one in the first round, 91-73

After losing their last two games, the Bears were given a chance to continue their basketball season in the NIT. Their most recent loss was back in the ACC Tournament on March 11th, 2026 against Florida State, 95-89. Before that they lost also on March 7th, 2026 at Wake Forest, 80-73. A rocky ending the Bears didn’t wanna go through, but due to their impressive season history and having standout wins against certain schools. The Golden Bears were gifted with postseason play in the spring. A chance for the Bears to truly make this season a memorable and winning one. Although, In a 10 game span, the Golden Bears went 5-5. They came back home Wednesday

The Golden Bears went with Chris Bell, Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden, Lee Dort as their starting five. Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen were named All-ACC, with their respective choices to the All-ACC Third Team and All-ACC Honorable Mention,. Cal’s first 20-win season since 2016–17 and its No. 9 seed in last week’s ACC Tournament are largely due to the two Bear guards. Haas Pavilion has been proven to be one of toughest for visitors to play as this squad went 16-4 in their home.

Five schools from the Missouri Valley Conference are competing in the postseason, including UIC. A record-breaking four MVC teams—UIC, Bradley, Illinois State, and Murray State—as well as NCAA qualifying UNI qualified for this year’s NIT play. So with that the Flames started with Elijah Crawford, Rashund Washington Jr., Abdul Momoh, Andy Johnson, and Mekhi Lowery.

Chris Bell hits a corner three-pointer to get this 1st round of an NIT game started here in Berkeley. However the Flames brought the physical play and toughness to them while they tried getting the bear’s out of their game. In the first 5 minutes of play, UCI holds the lead, 13-6, making the Bears give up 4 turnovers already and putting them in a 3 minute scoring drought. A shaky start for the home team while the visiting team goes on a 9-0 scoring run.

Cal guard Dejuan Campbell hits two back-to-back three pointers, giving Cal some scoring relief and go on a 6-0 scoring run. However UIC defense came to play as they force two turnovers on Cal. It took almost the whole 1st half for the Bears to lock in and get serious at the game. Big plays were made by both teams, going back and fourth in the 1st. However Cal would make 5 out of their 7 shot attempts and give them the lead at half, 39-35.

Both of these schools are shooting exactly at 50% at the end of the 1st. UIC would hold the lead for 16 minutes in the 1st half. The Flames really wanted to set a tone in the 1st half, and for the most part they did. However the Bears were able to pull through and create some turnovers on UIC. Giving a big momentum switch to Cal. at the end of the 1st half.

However the Flames would show out in the beginning of the second half and make their first 4 straight shots, going on a 6-0 scoring run and giving them back the lead, 43-41. Just right after their 4th shot, Cal Golden Bear Chris Bell gets fouled shooting a three pointer and gets sent to the line and makes all three of his shots. Then right after in their next possession, he would hit another three pointer. Giving Cal an extended lead, 47-43.

The Bears shooting came out as the team would go on another 6-0 scoring run, by hitting back-to-back three pointers. 6 minutes already into the game and Cal has made 4 big time three pointers that were vital for them in this game. As the shots kept coming down for Cal, out of their last 5 three point shot attempts, they’ve made 4 of them. So it was full throttle for UIC to get back in this game. They were able to make 6 out of their last 8 shot attempts to bring them back within 6 points, 68-62. UIC would also dominate in the paint as they scored 42 points down there compared to Cal’s 18 points in the paint.

Entering the last 6 minutes of the game, Cal would see it’s largest lead against UIC with 13 points, 77-64. This was due to the Bears making all of their last 5 shooting attempts. With their hot shooting, the Bears would ultimately seal the game. Cal would go on to make 9 three-pointers in the half compared to them making 6 three-pointers in the 1st half. The Bears prove they can shoot the ball well in their home court. Especially to Cal forward Chris Bell who went off and went 7-8 on three-pointers. His efforts and hot shooting was a big factor for the Bears first NIT win in 12 years (2014). Chris Bell would also get a career high with 31 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Bears also would go and score 52 points in the second half.

California Golden Bears will have a possible chance to host two more rounds of NIT play in the Haas Pavilion. Since they were able to win the first round game and move on to the second round. They’re next matchup will be the Saint Joseph Hawks as they took down Colorado State 69-64, in the New Mexico Bracket. The game will be on Sunday March 22nd, 2026 in Berkeley right back in the Haas Pavilion.

Golden State Loses to Chicago in Overtime, 130-124, on South Asian Heritage Night.

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Golden State forward (#20) Al Horford drives into the paint on Chicago Bulls forward Guerschon Yabusele (#28) in Chase Center at San Francisco on March 10th, 2026. (Photo credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – On March 10, the Warriors returned home to San Francisco at Chase Center to host the Chicago Bulls in a non-conference game as part of their celebration of South Asian Heritage Night. So far this month, the Warriors have gone 1-3, losing two games in a row. This game was a back-to-back feature after just yesterday, March 9th, the team lost to the Utah Jazz, 119-116. In fact, in the last five games, the team went 1-4 with their last win being five days ago against the Houston Rockets in an overtime win, 115-113. Now the Warriors have lost the last three games in a row, after losing to the Bulls Tuesday night, 130-124.

The Chicago Bulls are on their West Coast road trip games, as they just came from Sacramento. The Bulls lost to the Kings, 126-110, on Sunday, March 8th at the Golden 1 Center. Bulls are 2-2 so far in March, and have gone 2-3 in their last five games. Altogether, the Bulls have gone 10-20 on the road. This is the teams second time seeing each other as Golden State dominated Chicago in their home on December 8th, 2025, with a final score of 123-91, a 32 point win for the Warriors. The Bulls were able to grab their first win and get the last laugh on their West Coast visit against Golden State.

The Warriors and Bulls have a few connections tied together. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr played for the Chicago Bulls for five seasons (1993-94 – 1997-98), helping Chicago to win three NBA Champions (1996-98). Coach Kerr racked up 378 games for the Bulls coming off the bench, averaging 8.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. If Golden State had won, this would’ve been coach Steve Kerr’s 600th career coaching win.

The Golden State has had some injuries that have impacted the team and roster. However, Draymond Green was listed as questionable at first coming against the Bulls, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr addressed in his pregame press conference that Green will be playing in his 33rd home game. The team will still lack some players and starters as Jimmy Butler (right ACL surgery), Stephen Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome), Moses Moody (right wrist sprain), and Seth Curry (left sciatic nerve irritation management) are ruled out.

Not only did Draymond Green return for the game. Kristaps Porzingis had returned to the lineup after missing the team’s last game against the Utah Jazz. His last game was on Saturday, March 7th, in which he posted 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in Oklahoma City against the Thunder. The Warriors entered this game in ninth place in the Western Conference (32-32).

The starting five for the home team was Gui Santos, Draymond Green, Al Horford, Will Richard, and Brandin Podziemski. The Warriors are 19-13 on their home court so far this season. Warriors Podziemski is averaging 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for them. He also dropped 21 points on the Bulls when they first saw each other in Chicago.

Chicago started with Leonard Miller, Jalen Smith, Guerschon Yabusele, Matas Buzelis, and Josh Giddey. Chicago is third in the league with 34.7 defensive rebounds per game, led by Josh Giddey, averaging 7.0. Bulls Matas Buzelis is scoring 15.4 points per game with 5.5 rebounds for the Bulls. This Chicago squad has had a lot of rough moments, especially in last month, February, were the Bulls didn’t win any games at all in that month.

The Warriors were able to get on the board first after Brandin Podziemski got fouled on a shooting attempt that sent him to the free throw lines, and he was able to knock both of his attempts down. The Warriors were able to put 30 points at the end of the 1st quarter and hold on to the lead as well; it was 30-26 at the end of the 1st quarter. Warriors Porzingis came in for almost 4 minutes, and he was ready as he dropped a quick 7 points for Golden State.

Going into the 2nd quarter, the momentum still belonged to Golden State. The team was shooting 40% on the floor halfway through the 2nd quarter. Golden State’s bench has put up 19 points, while Chicago was able to match and surpass the Warriors in points in the paint, 18 points. However, with Golden State knocking down 11 three points so far in the 1st half, the team was able to hang on to the lead, but not for long. Tre Jones makes a 23-foot three-point jumper to give Chicago the lead 50-49, followed up by a lazy transition defense effort on Golden State that led to Bulls Buzelis to get an easy dunk in.

The Chicago Bulls would end the 1st half with a lead at 57-51. Bulls Josh Giddey has already recorded himself a double-double with 10 assists and 14 points. The Warriors are being led by Podziemski with nine points, two steals, and three assists. Golden State heads to the locker room hoping to lock in on their defensive game plan as Chicago also lead and control on the board game. The Bulls snagged 29 out of the Warriors’ 20 rebounds.

Coming into the second half, Chicago was able to score first this time from Jalen Smith on a layup. After that, Chicago held the entire third quarter. The Warriors ended the third quarter down by six points. Golden State’s shot selection improved, but Bulls Matas Buzelis would drop 11 points by himself in the third quarter that helped them hold the lead.

The Warriors made their comeback efforts in the fourth quarter and show the Bulls they got some fight left in them. With that, Golden State used its home court advantage from the fans and was able to retake the lead. Five players from Golden State hit double digits in points. With four minutes left in the game, Gui Santos shoots a six-foot shot to give the Warriors the lead, 106-105. After the Warriors would push the lead to eight points entering the final minutes of the game. However, Chicago showed their intensity and came back from that eight points to send the game to overtime. After a questionable and tough call on Draymond Green, the Bulls’ Jalen Smith was sent to the line. Bulls were down 116-118, and Smith would make both of his shots to give us five more minutes of play time.

Bulls would score first in overtime from Matas Buzelis on a six-foot shot, giving them the early lead. Buzelis would make his presence heard in these extra minutes of play as he hit a clutch three-point shot, which gave energy and life to Chicago. With that and one minute left, the Bulls lead by five points, 129-124. The Warriors couldn’t make a shot in this overtime and killed their chances of winning the game. Chicago would finish the overtime with the lead and the game. The Bulls would win the game, 130-124.

Golden State will get a chance to rest up and learn from their mistakes as they come back to Chase Center on Friday night to host Minnesota at 7 p.m. on Prime Video. Chicago will continue their path in the west coast and see the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, March 12th at 7:30 p.m.

Pittsburg Stuns California on their Senior Day and Home finale, 72-56!!

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California Golden Bear (#7) guard Dai Dai Ames shoots a corner three-pointer over Pittsburg Panther (#8) guard Omari Witherspoon on February 28th, 2026, in Berkeley, California, at the Haas Pavilion. (Photo credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – California played its last home game of the season on Saturday afternoon, hosting the Pittsburg Panthers on the Golden Bears’ Senior Day. A goodbye to their seniors, the fans who always came to the games, and to the “Haas of Pain.” This game is potentially a big one for Cal, as a win could solidify their chances of making it to the NCAA March Madness tournament. This game also meant a lot to Pittsburg as their fighting for the last seed in their conference tournament. So with that, both teams came out fighting, but the Panthers would be able to endure the “Haas of Pain” and win the game by 16 points, 72-56.

The last time the Panthers and the Golden Bears ran into each other was on January 1st, 2025, in Pittsburg. The game would go to the Panthers, 86-74. The all-time series between these two schools is 2-2, so a win today will give the lead to either of them. California entered this game riding a three-game winning streak; their most recent win was three days ago against SMU, 73-69. However, the Golden Bears aren’t too golden as they lost the last two recent matchups to Pittsburg in a row. After todays game, California would now have dropped the last 3 games in a row to Pittsburgh.

California started with a familiar lineup we’ve all seen. The Golden Bears went with guards Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, and forwards John Camden, Chris Bell, and Lee Dort. Lee Dort was out on injury for seven games, but made his return in the Bears’ last game against the SMU Mustangs. California honored seven graduating Bears before the game in a Senior Day ceremony. The graduating Bears were DeJuan Campbell, John Camden, Milos Ilic, Nolan Dorsey, Chris Bell, Rytis Petraitis, and Lee Dort.

The Panthers came into the Pavilion with forwards Roman Siulepa, Cameron Corhen, and guards Omari Witherspoon, Damarco Minor, and Barry Dunning Jr. Pittsburg senior Cameron Corhen has been on a run lately, averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4 assists in their last three games. They also sit on a three-way tie with Notre Dame and Boston College for the last spot in the upcoming ACC Tournament.

With the crowd on their feet and ready to cheer on the Bears. Pittsburgh Panthers guard Damarco Minor would hit a three-pointer, followed right up by a fastbreak dunk. This quick 5-0 scoring run would quite the fans for now. Eventually, Lee Dort would get the Bears on the board with a quick layup inside the paint.

In the first 10 minutes of play, Cal was having a rough start in the afternoon with already having 6 turnovers. While Pittsburg just had 1 turnover, and was shooting well on the court to back up their lead. The Panthers were shooting 43% while the Bears were at a low 37%. The score was 7-14, but Bear Dejuan Campbell scored 5 points by himself in 5 minutes to bring the score to 12-14.

Guard Dejuan Campbell’s impact in the 1st half sparked the Golden Bears to lock in and focus on the team’s last home game. The Bears would finish the first half with 12 turnovers, and gave up 14 points in those turnovers. However, the Bears’ shooting brought them closer. As they never had the lead at all during the game, but that would change in the 2nd half.

At halftime, the Golden Bears were down to the Panthers 34-26. Dejuan would lead the Bears with 8 points in his 9 minutes of playing time. His impact and presence on the court was a big factor for the Bears to come back and win this game. His ability to be ready at all times and at anytime proves how valuable their bench is. The Bears’ bench would go and put up 12 points in the 1st half.

The Panthers again would get the half going off another three-pointer from Damarco Minor. Then Golden Bear forward Chris Bell would get a three-pointer to fall right after Minor’s shot. Cal is entering this half playing catch-up to Pittsburgh. With 10 minutes into play, nothing much has changed. The Bears would be able to hit some shots, then eventually go on multiple scoring droughts. Which was really slowing down their comeback. The score is now 52-44, Panthers hold a 8 point lead.

With 4 minutes left, the Bears are starting to run out, and safe to say Dai Dai Ames is on it. Ames drives to the paint for a layup, getting fouled, and knocking down his free throw for a three-point play. His efforts, trying to somehow get the Bears going and the crowd back in the game wasn’t enough. Especially the Panthers going on a 7-0 scoring run right after that. Pushing Pittsburgh’s lead to 14 points in this timeframe.

Although the results weren’t what the Bears and their fans were expecting. The graduating bears and players put on one last show in their home. They were lead by Dai Dai Ames with 11 points and 2 rebounds. On the other side of the bench, Pittsburgh Panthers forward Barry Dunning Jr would put up a double-double in Berkeley’s home finale.

The California Golden Bears have two more games left in the season, but will be on the road. Their first stop will be against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on March 4th, then they will end their season against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on March 7th. These last few games will project the Golden Bears’ chances for the NCAA March Madness tournament and their seeding placement in the ACC Tournament.

UC Davis Aggies Fall to Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on their Senior Night, 77-73

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UC Davis Aggie (#4) guard Connor Sevilla shoots a midrange jumper in the 1st half at the University Credit Union Center on February 26th, 2026, at Davis, California. (Photo credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

DAVIS – The Aggies played their final home game of the season on Thursday evening, also celebrating their graduating seniors from UC Davis. Not only was this win crucial for the Aggies and their seniors, but it also helped the Aggies climb the Big West standings, as there is a three-way tie for first place. The Aggies are just one game behind those three teams, sitting in fourth place in the Big West Conference, and it just so happens. Their matchup, Hawaii, is one of the three teams tied for first place. So the Aggies and Rainbow Warriors went toe to toe in the Credit Union Center. However, it would be Hawaii celebrating as they pull an upset on UC Davis, 77-73.

Hawaii leads the all-time series at 12-16, with Hawaii taking the win in their first matchup on December 4th, 2025, in Hawaii with a final score of 75-69. Hawaii is 19-7 overall and 11-5 in the conference going into this week. The Rainbow Warriors, who rank fourth in the country in three-point percentage defense and 11th in defensive rebounds per game, are well known for their defense and rebounding. So with that in mind, Hawaii came into this game sticking to what they know. This win would now change the all-time series to 12-17.

UC Davis started with Isaiah Chappell, Niko Rocak, Marcus Wilson, Connor Sevilla, and Carl Daughtery Jr. After leading the Aggie frontcourt with 6.8 rebounds per game and setting the program’s single-season (58) and single-game (6) block records, Niko Rocak begins his third season at UC Davis. This team was able to protect their home well, as entering this game, they were 12-3 in their center. Also, for the fans who believe in coincidences, when wearing white uniforms, the Aggies hold an 8-3 record.

The Rainbow Warriors started with Harry Rouhliadeff, Isaac Finlinson, Isaac Johnson, Dre Bullock, and Hunter Erickson. This is also Hawaii’s final regular-season road trip in the Big West. It’s important to note that Hawaii has lost the last five trips to Davis and is looking to get its first win since 2021. Hawaii Dre Bullock is averaging 17.2 ppg in the last six games for the Rainbow Warriors.

Right at tip-off, the Aggies’ mindset was to take it to the Rainbow Warriors, and they did. Going on a quick 5-0 scoring run to get it going. Quickly, Hawaii responded with a 5-0 scoring run on their end. In the first half, Hawaii would put up 7 three-pointers on the Aggies and was able to take advantage of UC Davis turnovers. The Aggies would give up 12 turnovers, so Hawaii used that and dropped 14 points in those.

Hawaii’s defense wanted to show the Aggies and their fans that they want to take first place in their conference. So the defense came to play, forcing 8 steals on UC Davis. The Rainbow Warriors were able to hold the lead for pretty much the whole 1st half. They held the lead for 13 minutes, and there are only 20-minute halves. Hawaii’s Isaac Johnson is leading them with 14 points in the 1st half.

At halftime, the Aggies are down by 12 points, 43-31. Marcus Wilson is leading the Aggies in points so far with 11 points. However, Hawaii is making its presence known in the paint with 20 points in the key. Also, the Rainbow Warriors are shooting above 54% in all the categories, while UC Davis shooting is in the opposite direction. The Aggies only put up 3 three-pointers, shooting a total of 11, which puts their deep shooting percentage at 27%.

Hawaii Harry Rouhliadeff got the 2nd half going with a three ball. Keeping the momentum that Hawaii created in the 1st half going. After 5 minutes into the 2nd half, the Aggies were ready to make a run, hitting back-to-back three pointers to cut the lead to 4 points. This would turn into a 9-0 scoring run, and give the team and fans to get on their feet. The score is now 52-49.

Both schools are showing out, hustling on every play, and need this win to increase their lead in the standings. Things went cold for both of them as Davis’ hot scoring run would lead them to a scoring drought for 3 minutes. Those 3 minutes were crucial for their comeback. While Hawaii had its last 8 shot attempts, only 1 would go in. Hawaii would be able to hang on and bring its lead back to 8 points, 56-48.

With 8 minutes left in this Big West showdown, UC Davis is still playing catch up to Hawaii as they still hold the lead. The score was now 62-59, Aggies are down 3 points. Both teams are tightening up on their defense as they know this game is crucial. The Aggies also were really focusing on knocking down shots, in the 2nd half, they have already made 5 over their 3 three-pointers in the 1st half.

The Aggies would again run into a road bump and get themselves in a scoring drought for almost 3 minutes. Aggies struggling to convert a shot is what’s ultimately holding them back from this game. So if UC Davis wasn’t going to make their shots. Hawaii would take advantage and make theirs. They would push the lead back to 9 points, 70-61.

2 minutes left in this game, and the Aggies are still fighting their way to a win in this one. The only problem is, Hawaii is looking to finish them off and win the game to help them increase their chances for 1st place. The score was 73-68, down just 5 points. The Aggies already passed the points they scored in the 1st half, they have scored 37 in the 2nd half so far compared to their 31 points in the 1st half.

Although UC Davis was able to make some tough baskets, that were shedding some light on them. It wasn’t enough, as Hawaii was able to feel the win with 11 seconds left, up by 2 points, and had the ball. In Hawaii, Isaac Finlinson would get fouled on the inbound pass. The Aggies’ last hope to somehow pull a win, but Finlinson hits both of his free throws and secures the win for the Rainbow Warriors. The final score would be 77-73, Hawaii’s first win in Davis since 2021.

Hawaii has now won 20 games in this season, but making it their fourth straight 20 and more wins in a row. UC Davis will head to the road to SoCal and face off against Long Beach State on March 5th, 2026, at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. The Aggies fall to seventh place while Hawaii takes first place in the Big West conference after tonight’s game. Also, next weekend, UC Davis will visit UC Irvine in another Big West game on national television for the final regular-season game of the year on ESPNU.

Cal Bears Win 3 in a Row, as they Beat SMU Mustangs, 73-69

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California Golden Bear forward (#2) John Camden drives to the basket for the slam against SMU Mustangs in the Haas Pavilion on February 25th, 2026, at Berkeley, California. (Photo credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – The California Golden Bears hosted the SMU Mustangs on Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion, four days after the Bears’ big win over their school rival, Stanford last Saturday. The final score of that game was 72-66, so the Golden Bears were ready to stay golden on their home court.

Cal did exactly that as they beat the SMU Mustangs, 73-69 on Wednesday night, Bears forward Chris Bell scored his third straight 20 points or more game this season doing it in 22 games.

The last time the Mustangs and the Bears faced off was on February 26th, 2025, in Berkeley as the Mustangs got the win, 81-77. For California head coach Mark Madsen he was looking for his first win against SMU. As the Bears trail in the all-time series with the Mustangs, 1-4, noting that Cal has lost the last four in a row to SMU. However, things can change in a year, and all that would change Wedneday as the Bears were able to defeat the Mustangs.

Over the last ten games, both schools went 6-4 and are right on each other’s tail as the season gets closer to its end. Prior to the game Cal was sitting in ninth place while the Mustangs were ahead of them in eighth place. So both schools came into Haas Pavilion determined to win and help their school rank as high as possible before the Men’s ACC basketball tournament, which starts on March 10th through the 14th.

Cal started with Dai Dai Ames, Justin Pippen, John Camden, Bell, and Milos Ilic. Ames is averaging 17.1 points and shooting 47.2%. Over the past ten games, Camden has made 3.3 3-pointers on average. Camden is also top-25 in the nation on his 3-point shooting percentage at 42.4%, along with Pippen being in the top-75 in the nation in steals at 1.84 per game.

For the Mustangs, Kevin Miller averages 18.7 points, 6.9 assists, and 1.8 steals. Over the past ten games, Jaron Pierre Jr. has averaged 18.2 points. The Mustangs’ starting five were B.J. Edwards, Boopie Miller, Corey Washington, Samet Yigitglu, and Jaron Pierre Jr. This is SMU’s only meeting with Berkeley this season.

Camden got the balling going with a jumper, followed by back to back three pointers from Bell. Bell’s last home game four days ago he dropped 20 points against Stanford.

After the first five minutes of play, the score was 13-9, and the Bears led over the Mustangs due to Bell’s hot start. Altogether, Cal has already made five 3 three pointers. Cal is shooting above 50% in all categories while the Mustangs are shooting below 44%. Also, for two minutes, the Mustangs went scoreless, which helped the Bears hold the lead.

Ten minutes into play Bell made a strong cut to the basket on the baseline for a layup, forcing SMU coach Andy Enfield to call a timeout. The Bears increased their lead by seven, the score is now 20-13. Again, the Mustangs found themselves in another scoring drought for two minutes and a half minutes, so the Bears kept taking advantage and taking it to them. Bell at 13 points, led the team early in this game.

At half, the Bears held onto the lead, 38-33. However, it got physical and chippy between the two clubs. Both teams are were shooting, playing, and statistically in the same play pool as each other. Bell is leading the Bears still, but with 15 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Cal is playing cautious and smart with the ball as they know the Mustangs thrive on turnovers, so they have limited their turnovers with just four in the first half, while the Mustangs had six turnovers.

Coming back from their lockers, Pippen hit a midrange jumper to break the ice and in the second half is when SMU got things going. Cal had gone through a scoring drought for three minutes. During that drought, the Mustangs fought their way back, going on a 7-0 scoring run. With 13 minutes remaining in the game, the Mustangs got their first lead of the night at 46-45. Pippen was able to record his 23rd double-digit point in 26 games.

In the final ten minutes, Cal’s shooting took a wrong turn, like in the final half. The Bears were able to just make two three pointers compared to their five in the first half.

Camden was able to get a bucket to make it a total of three, and give the Bears back the lead at 53-50. Cal and SMU continue to go at it and exchange buckets against each other. SMU made a three, but Cal came right down the court to hit a three and get their fans back into the game.

In the final two minutes of the game, SMU forward Corey Washington scored seven points on his own to give the Mustangs back the lead at 65-64. Pippen would hit a midrange jumper to get the lead back to put the Bears in front 68-67.

Then, later, after SMU couldn’t get a basket, Pippen smartly drew a foul to send him to the free-throw line. He would make both of them and push the lead by three points, 70-67. Cal would end up finishing and taking home the win.

Cal went onto another win on their home floor, as they and SMU switch places in the ACC standings. Cal picking up their 20th win and SMU taking their tenth loss.

The Golden Bears are now in eighth place while the Mustangs move down to the ninth seed. This win was also Cal head coach Mark Madsen’s first career win against SMU as Cal now jumps to three straight wins in a row.

The Bears will return right back in the Haas Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 28th, 2026, at 1 p.m for Senior Day. Cal will host the Pittsburgh Panthers and hopefully look to take the lead in the all-time series lead which currently stands at 2-2. Pittsburgh has won the last two meetings over Cal.

San Francisco Dons Fall to Santa Clara Broncos on their Senior Night, 94-73

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San Francisco Don guard (5) Tyrone Riley IV shoots a three-pointer in the second half at the War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday. February 21st, 2026. (Photo credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – After hosting the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the home of the Golden State Warriors, Chase Center, as a home game. The San Francisco Dons returned to the Hilltop for their last home game of the season to host the Santa Clara Broncos (22-6, 13-2 WCC). This game was also a farewell to their seniors graduating, as this was the Dons’ Senior Night. However, the Dons failed to get the win for them and their fans as they fell to SCU, 94-73. Santa Clara ends up with a season series sweep against San Francisco.

This regular-season home finale represented the 239th all-time matchup between San Francisco and Santa Clara, with the Broncos maintaining a slim 121–117 advantage in the series history. When the two teams first met on Jan. 28, Santa Clara erupted for 54 second-half points, pulling away from the Dons for an 88–73 win at the Leavey Center and claiming the early edge in the season series. After tonight, the all time series is a 5 win lead for Santa Clara as it’s now 122-117. The Broncos wanted to show the Bay Area and the city of San Francisco that they weren’t afraid, and they came to play.

During the last three seasons, the home team had won each of the last five games between USF and SCU, while the green and gold aimed to secure a third straight season-series split. Entering Saturday night with a 4–4 home record in conference play, the Dons aimed to preserve an eight-season streak of finishing with a winning home record in West Coast Conference action. The last time San Francisco posted a losing home record in league play came in 2015–16, when the Dons went 4–5 at home and 8–10 overall in WCC play.

San Francisco Dons started the game with guards Ryan Beasley, Tyrone Riley IV, Vukasin Masic, and forwards Guillermo Diaz Graham and Junjie Wang. Ryan Beasley leads the Dons with the most average points per game at 13.4 and with the most average assists per game at 3.9.

Santa Clara Bronoc started their five with Brenton Knapper, Christian Hammond, Elijah Mahi, Jake Ensminger, and Bukky Oboye. Christian Hammond leads the Broncos with the most average points per game at 16.4, and Jake Ensminger leads the most assists in a game at 3.0.

Right at tip-off, both sides of the teams’ fan section were on their feet as both teams’ first baskets were three-pointers. After that, both teams exchanged solid and fast buckets on each other, the Broncos’ defense was locked in as the Dons had 3 turnovers in 2 minutes after their hot start. Just as the Dons were slowly starting to find their way out of that early funk, Broncos Christian Hammond made 3 straight three pointers to push the Broncos to an early lead of 10 points, 34-24 in the first 10 minutes of play.

In the 1st half, both teams were shooting the ball well. The Dons and the Broncos are shooting above 52% in all of the categories. However, the Dons are leading the Broncos in turnovers as USF has 10 while SCU just has 4. In those 10 turnovers, the Broncos were able to put up 14 points off of those as SCU was able to control their lead, and so far, the game too.

At halftime, the Broncos are leading 44-38. Dons guard Ryan Beasley hits a half-court shot at the buzzer to get the crowd and the Dons’ spirit high going into the break. Both teams have already made 8 three pointers in the game, showing how badly these teams want to grab this win for their schools.

The second half showed some fire and fight in the Dons, but that spirit and determination weren’t enough for them to come back. The Broncos were all over the Dons, and at one point in the second half, they had a 22 point lead, which was their largest on the Dons in this game.

The Broncos’ presence in the paint on grabbing offensive and defensive rebounds was a challenge for the Dons to keep up with. Especially since the Dons kept adding turnovers by being careless with the ball at times, and were locked up by Santa Clara’s defense. The Broncos’ defense picked up 13 steals altogether and held the lead pretty much the whole game. The Dons only led for one minute.

Santa Clara wasn’t phased by being in the Dons’ home as they kept knocking down big shots that killed the Dons and their fans spirit. Especially the Broncos hitting 8 three’s in the first half. Santa Clara also had a 50-point second half for Santa Clara. The Broncos looked great from start to finish, and wanted this win to be a statement in this series between the two bay area schools.

The Broncos beat the Dons by 21 points in this game. Broncos Elijah Mahi led the Broncos as he had 30 points and 7 rebounds. For the Dons, Ryan Beasley led the way with his 22 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds. His efforts and attempts in this game weren’t enough for the Dons to come back from behind in their home.

The San Francisco Dons will head to the Central Valley area, in Stockton, to take on the Pacific Tigers in the final game of the season. That game will take place on February 28th, 2026, on CBS Sports Network in Stockton at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The Dons will also try to get a season series sweep against the Tigers as they won against them on January 31st, 2025, in the War Memorial gym at the Sobrato Center, final score was 87-82.

Sacramento State Hornets fall to Eastern Washington Eagles, 102-94, Hornets now on 4-Game Losing Streak

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Sacramento State Hornet guard #16 Prophet Johnson makes a fastbreak layup to help bring the Hornets from behind, 61-49, in Sacramento, California, on February 19th, 2026, at the Hornet Pavilion. (Photo credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

SACRAMENTO – As the weather and storms that covered the 916 area all week stopped on Thursday evening, the weather cleared up just in time for the Sacramento State Hornets to start their two-game homestands this week. However, the Hornets lost to Eastern Washington Eagles, 102-94. This loss pushed the Hornets into a 4-game losing streak, and improved the Eagles to 5-0 in the month of February. The Hornets’ record would fall to (9-17, 5-9 Big Sky)

The Hornets came home desperately wanting to secure a win and, of course, protect their home court. Hornets were 9-2 at home entering this game, but are now 9-3 after dropping this one to the Eagles. Sac State has lost the last 3 games dating back to Feb. 7th against Portland State in Sacramento. The last two losses were on the road against Northern Colorado on Feb. 12th and Northern Arizona on Feb.19th.

Coming into the game, the Hornets were 5-1 at home in conference play, with that only loss against first-place Portland State. Eastern Washington and Sacramento State last faced off on Jan. 24th in Cheney, as the Eagles defeated the Hornets, 75-67. The all time series between these two programs is now 17-49, with Sac State losing 13 of the 15 in the series. The last time the Hornets won against the Eagles in Sacramento was on Feb. 26th, 2022, with the final score being 81-75.

Eastern Washington has now won five straight after starting conference play with a 3-6 record. Although the Eagles’ road record was 3-13, the Hornets played against a different version of the Eagles that took over the Well, here in Sacramento. This game was the 1st out of just 3 home games remaining for Sac State.

With starting guard Mikey Williams being out now for 3 games due to an injury. Sac State coach Mike Bibby started his squad with guards Taj Glover, Prophet Johnson, Jahni Summers, and forwards Shaqir O’Neal and Mark Lavrenov. Mark Lavrenov is second in the Big Sky in rebounding and fifth in offensive rebounds (2.7), along with five double-doubles this season. The freshman is having an incredible first season in the NCAA and with Sac State.

Eagles guard Tyler Powell got the game going tonight with back-to-back three-pointers for Eastern Washington. Setting them up for not just a hot start, but pretty much set the tone for them to be aggressive the whole game. After just 5 minutes into the game, the score was 21-4, the Eagles lead. In that span of 5 minutes, the Hornets went 3 minutes without scoring, going 1-of-6 on the floor.

Eastern Washington found and got themselves the largest lead of the night with a 24-point lead with 13 minutes in the first half, 28-4. During that the Eagles were on a 10-0 scoring run, putting the Hornets in a tough and awkward position in their home, and well, pretty much the whole game.

After 10 minutes had gone by in the game, the Hornets were still down 33-16. Although Sac State’s shooting was starting to pick up, the team found themselves playing catch up all night in their home. Hornets were now shooting 6-of-14, making their last 5 shots on the floor in a row. While the Eagles also made their last five shots out of seven attempts.

Hornets guard Prophet Johnson at the 6-minute mark would make the first three-pointer of the night for Sacramento State, as the team is now 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. On the other side of the court, the Eagles were flying high as they finished the first half with 10 made three pointers out of 16 attempts. Eastern Washington would also later finish the first half with 57 points. Eagles guard Jojo Anderson makes an acrobatic layup to beat the buzzer for the team.

At halftime, Sacramento State is down going into halftime at 57-39. Hornets guard Prophet Johnson leads the Hornets so far with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. He also hasn’t been subbed out at all, as coach Mike Bibby is relying on his game since guard Mikey Williams, who averages 17.1 points per game, is out due to injury. Injuries have been a massive problem as the team was without six players on Saturday against Northern Arizona University.

Coming back from halftime, the Hornets were locked in and ready for a comeback. The team showed their determination, hustle, and grit by fighting back into the game for a possible comeback. Sac State would start the second half going on a quick 8-0 scoring a run to bring them back within 10 points. That scoring run would change into a 10-4, with 6 points of those coming from Hornets guard Prophet Johnson.

Halfway through the second half, the Hornets were able to cut the lead to just 11 points, but was still struggling shooting from deep and at the free throw line. Eagles guard Isaiah Moses was determined to get the road win as he finished the night with 26 points on 6-of-8 shooting from deep, along with Tyler Powell, who had 17 points shooting 5-of-8 from deep as well.

In the final two minutes of the game, the Hornets found themselves down just 9 points, 95-86, but time was not on the Hornets’ side. Bad shooting, bad inside passes, and questionable calls from the ref haunted Sac State the whole night. Coming into that final stretch, you wanted time on your side, as the Eagles were making tough layups and shots that ultimately secured their win. The Hornets were desperately trying to stop and play hard defense, but couldn’t. As the final buzzer went off, the final score would be 102-94.

Hornets guard Prophet Johnson led the team with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Matching him with 26 points was Arman Madi, who also had 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Sacramento State has proven they love to play and show out in their home, by shooting 43% from deep. Tonight’s game was a different story as the team was able to shoot at only 29%. (5-of-17)

Sacramento State will return back in their home this Saturday, on Feb. 21st, to host the Idaho Vandals. The game will start right back again at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. This will be the second last home game of the season, as both programs fight for wins and lift their team higher in the standings. Idaho is in 7th, and Sacramento State is in 8th in the Big Sky Conference.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Pacific Tigers Comeback 10 Points Late to Defeat LMU, 65–59

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Pacific Tiger guard #2 Elias Ralph shoots a midrange jumper in the 2nd half on February 11th, 2026, at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, CA. (Photo Credits to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

STOCKTON – On Wednesday night at the Alex G. Spanos Center, the Pacific Tigers men’s basketball team defeated Loyola Marymount 65–59 in another exciting home game, heading to their first winning season in six years.

With four regular-season games left and at least one meeting certain in the WCC Tournament, Pacific came into the meeting with an overall record of 16–10 and a 7–6 record in the West Coast Conference. The program secured its first winning season since the 2019–20 season and only the third since the Tigers returned to the WCC in 2013–14 with a win over LMU.

The Tigers had a 10-1 record inside the Spanos Center, proving their dominance at home throughout the season. The program’s best home success rate since Pacific’s 12-1 home record in the 2004– 05 season was achieved with a home winning percentage of 0.909. The Tigers’ home record was 819–463 overall, with a 356–230 record at the Alex G. Spanos Center.

In addition, Pacific started the evening alone in fourth place in the WCC standings, one game ahead of Washington State, San Francisco, and Oregon State. The game was crucial for positioning in the final stretch since a No. 3 or No. 4 seed would guarantee a bye into the conference tournament’s quarterfinal round on Sunday, March 7.

The two sides had different trends going into the game. The Lions had a 3–7 record over their last 10 games, while the Tigers had a 6–4 record.

Justin Rochelin, Jaden Clayton, TJ Wainwright, Elias Ralph, and Isaac Jack made up Pacific’s starting five. With an average of 16.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, Ralph had been the Tigers’ top scorer. Over the last ten games, Wainwright averaged 14.6 points and 4.0 rebounds, demonstrating a consistent scoring presence.

The starting lineup for LMU included Rick Issanza, Aaron McBride, Rodney Brown Jr., Myron Amey Jr., and Jan Vide. Brown Jr., who averaged 2.9 made three-pointers per game, scored 14.2 points, and shot 38.8 percent from beyond the arc, had been a vital perimeter danger for the Lions. Shelley had also been a consistent contributor for LMU, averaging 14 points and 5.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.

After defeating San Francisco 84-75 on the road and San Diego 83-63 at home, LMU came to Stockton with a lot of energy. Pacific was ranked No. 102 in the NCAA NET Rankings, ahead of LMU at No. 160, despite the Lions’ recent success. Pacific’s highest-ever finish, No. 110, was also obtained during the 2019–20 season, which marked the introduction of the NET Rankings.

Rodney Brown Jr. made a jumper to give Loyola Marymount the lead early in the game, but Pacific quickly answered with a jumper of their own from Elias Ralph. As the first half went on, the Tigers found it hard to get into an offensive rhythm despite their quick response.

The Lions controlled the game for most of the first half, holding the lead for nearly 16 minutes, while the Tigers led for just over two. LMU’s defensive pressure disrupted Pacific throughout the half, holding the Tigers to just 29 percent shooting from the field. After the first 10 minutes, LMU had built a 10-point advantage. With 7:30 remaining in the first half, Pacific was shooting just 21 percent from the floor, going 4-of-19.

At halftime, the Tigers trailed 31–25. Although Pacific outrebounded LMU 19–13, shooting efficiency proved to be the difference. The Tigers connected on just one of seven three-point attempts, while the Lions made five of 12 shots from long range. Pacific did find success in the paint, scoring 12 of its 25 first-half points inside, but struggles elsewhere prevented the Tigers from closing the gap before the break.

Elias Ralph sparked Pacific’s incredible comeback in the second half. He energized the Tigers and started a comeback with a made three-pointer to start the half. Ralph then led a 7-0 scoring run with a hook shot and a layup on a cut to the hoop. Pacific took advantage of LMU’s lack of scoring for the first two minutes of the second half. The score was tied 36–36 after the first 4 minutes of the half.

The Tigers then took the lead on a layup from guard Jaden Clayton, 38–36, and extended it immediately with a three-pointer from Justin Rochelin. Pacific would never relinquish the lead, erupting on a 25–5 run over nine minutes. Ralph was instrumental, finishing the game with 22 points and 7 rebounds, making 8 of 9 shots in the second half alone. TJ Wainwright contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Clayton and Rochelin provided key support in crunch time. By the time eight minutes remained, Pacific had already outscored its first-half total, putting 28 points on the board in the second frame.

LMU briefly cut the lead during a four-minute scoreless stretch for the Tigers, narrowing the gap to nine points. However, Wainwright hit a clutch basket with 1:30 remaining to push the lead back to 11 and seal the win for Pacific.

The starting five of the Tigers overcame LMU’s early lead with a mix of effective defense and effective scoring play. Rodney Brown Jr. remained a perimeter threat for LMU, but the Lions were unable to keep up their domination in the first half.

With their win, Pacific moved one step closer to its first winning season since 2019–20, improving to 17–10 overall and 8–6 in West Coast Conference play. The Tigers prepared for the WCC Tournament by maintaining their momentum throughout the rest of the regular season.

In an attempt to hold onto their winning season as much as possible and keep gaining ground in West Coast Conference play, the Pacific Tigers will take on the St. Mary’s Gaels on February 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, California.

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.