Field Level Media
18 Jan 2026, 05:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
John Camden poured in 20 points, Dai Dai Ames added 19 and California ended its three-game losing streak with a thrilling 84-78 Atlantic Coast Conference victory at home over No. 14 North Carolina on Saturday.
Justin Pippen made two clutch free throws with 10 seconds to play to help the Bears (14-5, 2-4 ACC) hold off a furious rally by the Tar Heels (14-4, 2-3).
The Bears fueled their success by shooting 53.8% (14 of 26) from beyond the arc, notching their second win over a ranked team this season. Pippen tallied 19 points and five assists.
Caleb Wilson scored 17 points to lead the Tar Heels, who have dropped two in a row and have allowed 58 3-pointers in the last four games. Derek Dixon (14), Henri Veesaar (14) and Seth Trimble (12) also reached double figures.
California led 54-37 at the half and Ames extended the lead to 61-41 with 18:17 remaining, knocking down his third trey of the day.
North Carolina didn't fold, and an 18-3 run late in the game pulled the Tar Heels within 77-73 with 3:21 to go after Jaydon Young made two free throws.
It was 79-75 after Trimble's free throws with 1:47 remaining and 81-78 after Veesaar's 3-pointer with 19 seconds left.
North Carolina has struggled to slow down opponents from the 3-point line lately, and that continued early against California, as the Bears scored the first seven points and led 10-3 with 17:22 left after Ames buried California's second 3-pointer of the day.
The Tar Heels responded with a 7-0 run, knotting the score at 10-10 on a long-range shot from Trimble with 16:16 remaining.
The burst of momentum didn't last long as the Bears used a 16-3 run, including 11 straight points, to surge in front 26-13 with 11:10 to go after a Milos Illic layup.
The Tar Heels were within 31-26 after a pair of free throws by Veesaar with 6:51 to play.
In the final 4:22, however, California blitzed North Carolina, making five shots from beyond the arc, including two apiece from Pippen and Camden, and rolled into halftime with a 17-point cushion.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Raleigh Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Raleigh Times.
More InformationMADRID, Spain: Global tourism continued to expand in 2025, but the United States moved against the trend, recording fewer foreign visitors...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Google is pushing its AI chatbot deeper into online shopping, unveiling new partnerships with major retailers...
HONG KONG: China closed 2025 with its largest trade surplus on record, underscoring how exports to the rest of the world have cushioned...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks were unwanted Friday as President Donald Trump poured cold water on the potential appointment of National...
AUSTIN, Texas: Tesla will stop offering its full self-driving software as a one-time purchase and switch exclusively to a monthly subscription...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: After years of expansion fueled by debt and rising pressure from cautious luxury shoppers, Saks Global has...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: After years of expansion fueled by debt and rising pressure from cautious luxury shoppers, Saks Global has...
(Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images) John Camden poured in 20 points, Dai Dai Ames added 19 and California ended its three-game...
(Photo credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images) After winning a temporary restraining order from Franklin County Court of Common Pleas...
(Photo credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images) No. 6 Duke and Stanford look to complete impressive two-game sweeps when the Atlantic...
(Photo credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images) No. 14 North Carolina will look to right the ship defensively when it visits California...
(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images) Clayton Kershaw is returning to the mound after all. Months removed from announcing his...
