Cal clamps down early, pulls away late in 74–56 win over Columbia at Haas

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia shot 50.0 percent from the field and outscored Cal 41–27 in the second half to secure an 84–60 win Wednesday night. The Cavaliers, ranked No. 23 entering the matchup, finished with nine three-pointers and a 45–26 rebounding advantage.

BERKELEY, Calif. — The ball left Dai Dai Ames’ hands with the season hanging in the air — then dropped cleanly through the net.

Former Cal running back Patrick Laird explains why leadership alignment, institutional belief, and cultural clarity could redefine the future of Cal football and the university as a whole.

BERKELEY, Calif. — Louisville weathered a second-half push and controlled the glass from start to finish, handing Cal a 90–70 loss Tuesday night at Haas Pavilion after jumping out to a 10–0 lead and never fully relinquishing control.

Cal didn’t need a hot shooting half to take control Sunday afternoon at Haas Pavilion.

The Golden Bears scored just 26 points before the break — the kind of number that keeps a game fragile. But Cal’s defense never let Columbia breathe, and the result was an unusual halftime reality: a 12-point lead built entirely on pressure, discipline, and rebounding.

By the time most kids were choosing an NFL team, Michael Cooley was already climbing Memorial Stadium’s concrete steps with his dad, convinced his blood ran blue and gold.

The third-year outside linebacker for the California Golden Bears grew up across the Bay, the son of a Cal alum who made sure Berkeley football was a family ritual. Saturdays meant driving over to Memorial Stadium, joining thousands of fans in the concrete bowl, and watching names like Jahvid Best, DeSean Jackson, and Jared Goff turn the field into a stage.