Golden Bears Survive Late Surge, Edge Miami in Wild Finish on the Road
In a game that had more twists than a Hollywood thriller, California men's basketball pulled off a gritty 86-85 road win over Miami, thanks to a clutch final stretch that saw the Bears dig deep and deliver when it mattered most.
John Camden led the charge with a season-high 26 points, showing off his full scoring arsenal in a performance that kept Cal in the fight from start to finish. Justin Pippen wasn’t far behind in impact - the guard dished out a career-best eight assists to go along with 17 points, orchestrating the offense with poise and precision. It was the kind of road win that speaks volumes about a team’s toughness and growth, especially in the unforgiving grind of ACC play.
Cal improves to 16-6 on the season and 4-5 in conference action, while Miami drops to 17-5 and 6-3 in the ACC.
A Game of Runs and Responses
This one had the feel of a heavyweight bout from the opening tip. The lead changed hands six times in the first 11 minutes, with both teams trading punches and refusing to blink. Cal strung together a 10-0 run midway through the first half to flip the momentum, with Camden and Pippen finding their rhythm and Chris Bell knocking down a pair of early threes to set the tone.
The Bears held a slim 45-44 edge at halftime, despite Miami shooting a blistering 61% from the field in the first 20 minutes. Cal wasn’t far behind at 55%, and the offensive fireworks were just getting started.
Second Half: Fouls, Firepower, and a Furious Finish
If the first half was about shot-making, the second was about composure - especially with the whistles flying. The opening minutes of the second half were dominated by trips to the free-throw line, with both teams racking up fouls and having to manage rotations carefully.
Cal found themselves trailing 72-63 with just over nine minutes left, but never panicked. They chipped away, even as key bigs Milos Ilic and Mantas Kocanas fouled out in quick succession. Ilic left his mark with a thunderous dunk before exiting, and Pippen kept the Bears within striking distance with timely drives and finishes.
Then came the turning point: with under four minutes to go, Dai Dai Ames hit two free throws, Camden came up with a steal, and Ames buried a cold-blooded baseline three to put Cal ahead 82-81 - their first lead since early in the half.
Miami briefly retook the lead at 85-84 with under two minutes left, but that’s when Dhiaukuei Manyiel Dut stepped up in a massive way. First, he swatted a shot on the defensive end. Then, with 57 seconds left, he cleaned up a miss with a putback that gave Cal the lead for good.
The Hurricanes had one final look after calling timeout with 5.8 seconds left, but the shot rolled off the rim - and the Bears walked out of Coral Gables with a statement win.
By the Numbers
Cal shot 49.1% from the field and hit 10 threes, while Miami was even more efficient at 56.9% but managed just four makes from deep. The game was a parade to the free-throw line - 65 attempts in total - with Cal going 24-of-32 and Miami 23-of-33. Miami held a slight edge on the glass, 32-28, but Cal’s timely plays in the final minutes proved to be the difference.
Four Bears finished in double figures: Camden (26), Pippen (17), Bell (16), and Ames (14). For Miami, Malik Reneau led the way with 24 points, followed by Shelton Henderson (16), Tre Donaldson (14), and Ernest Udeh Jr. (12).
Noteworthy Performances
- John Camden: Now with 16 double-digit scoring games this season, Camden’s 26-point outburst also marked his seventh 20-point game in a Cal uniform. He was the offensive engine all afternoon.
- Justin Pippen: Continues to evolve as a floor general.
His 17 points and career-high eight assists show how much he's grown into his role.
- Chris Bell: Quietly consistent, Bell hit double digits for the 16th time this season with 16 points, including some key buckets to stop Miami runs.
- Dai Dai Ames: With 14 points, Ames has now scored in double figures a team-best 19 times this season. His late-game poise was critical.
What’s Next
Cal now heads back to Berkeley for a crucial stretch at home. The Bears will host Georgia Tech on Wednesday before welcoming Clemson next Saturday - two more chances to climb the ACC ladder and build on the momentum from this signature road win.
This was Cal’s first-ever trip to Miami, and they made it count. A one-point win on the road in ACC play doesn’t just happen - it’s earned. And on this day, the Bears showed they’re more than capable of delivering in the clutch.