Fri Nov 07 05:00:00 UTC 2025: Cal Bears Dominate CSU Bakersfield in Season Opener

Berkeley, CA – The California Golden Bears kicked off their basketball season in emphatic fashion Monday night, routing CSU Bakersfield 87-60 at Haas Pavilion. The victory marked Cal’s largest margin of victory since a 31-point win over CSU Northridge in 2020, providing fans with a stress-free start to the season.

Sophomore point guard Justin Pippen, son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, directed the offense with 15 points and a game-high seven assists. Junior transfer Dai Dai Ames led the team in scoring with 18 points, while forward John Camden added an efficient 22 points. Center Lee Dort had a career high of 15 points.

“Tonight was a good win against a scrappy and tough Bakersfield team,” said Cal head coach Mark Madsen. “I’m proud of our guys. We had a good team performance.”

The Bears displayed improved passing, recording 20 assists as a team, a significant improvement from last season. While the victory was decisive, Madsen acknowledged areas for improvement, including 3-point shooting and transition defense.

“We are in the process of building this program into a national championship contender,” Madsen stated.

Cal faces Wright State on Thursday, aiming to continue its winning ways and address the early-season concerns.

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