California and Stanford are set to meet for the 292nd time in their long-standing basketball rivalry on Saturday, January 24, at Maples Pavilion. The Golden Bears, holding a 14-5 record (2-4 ACC), will face the Cardinal (14-5, 3-3) with tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m.
The series between the two teams dates back to the 1911-12 season, with California leading all-time 156-135.
Saturday’s game will be televised on ACC Network with Debbie Antonelli and Beth Mowins providing commentary. Radio coverage will be available through Justin Allegri on the Cal Bears Sports Network via 810 AM and The Varsity App.
In their most recent outing, California defeated No. 14 North Carolina by a score of 84-78 at Haas Pavilion. This victory marked the team’s first win over a top-15 opponent since 2016. John Camden led Cal with 20 points, while Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen each contributed 19 points. Lee Dort recorded a game-high 12 rebounds.
“This was Cal’s first win over a top-15 AP opponent since 2016, when the Bears beat No. 11 Oregon at Haas Pavilion.”
Camden, Ames, and Pippen combined for a total of 58 points against North Carolina. The Tar Heels were led by Caleb Wilson’s 17 points.
“Cal is now 2-3 against ranked opponents this season (wins over No. 18 UCLA and No. 14 UNC; losses to No. 9 Duke and No. 23 Virginia).”
Earlier this season, Cal secured an important win over then-No.18 UCLA at Chase Center during the Empire Classic finale. Chris Bell scored a game-high 22 points in that matchup, helping Cal earn its first victory over a ranked opponent since February 2020.
“With a game-high 22 points, Chris Bell scored in double digits for the sixth straight game and registered his third 20-point game as a Bear.”
Cal began its season with a strong start, winning twelve of its first thirteen games—its best opening since the late ’50s—and posted nine consecutive wins between November and December.
Cal has found success when limiting opponents’ scoring: they have won thirteen out of fourteen games when holding teams to seventy-two points or fewer and remain undefeated when opponents shoot under forty percent from the field.
According to national rankings released December 30, three different California players appeared among the nation’s top forty in separate statistical categories: Dai Dai Ames in field goals made (No.40), Chris Bell in free throw percentage (No.39), and John Camden in three-pointers made (No.40).
Four starters are averaging double-digit point totals this season: Ames leads with an average of seventeen point four per game; Pippen averages fourteen point six; Camden has thirteen point four; Bell contributes twelve point nine.
Ames joined Cal after playing one season at Virginia; Bell arrived following three years at Syracuse; Camden previously played at Virginia Tech before transferring to Berkeley.
Head coach Mark Madsen reached his hundredth career coaching win earlier this year—a milestone achieved during Cal’s victory over Cal State Fullerton on November tenth.
“Mark Madsen is one of four NCAA Division I head coaches that won an NBA title during their playing careers.”
Fans interested in attending home games can purchase tickets through CalBears.com/Tickets or by calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277).
Supporters can also contribute through the Cal Men’s Basketball Excellence Initiative.
For more updates about California men’s basketball, fans can follow official accounts on X (@CalMBBall), Instagram (@CalMBBball), or Facebook (/CalMBBall/).
