SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The California men's basketball team and host Syracuse fought through 28 total lead changes in an epic battle that saw the Orange eke out a 107-100 double-overtime victory over the visiting Golden Bears tonight at the JMA Wireless Dome. John Camden scored his 1,000th career point, Milos Ilic recorded his first double-double as a Bear, and Dai Dai Ames registered his 10th 20-point game of the season for Cal, but the hosts would have the final word thanks in part to their 21 free throws taken during OT. Cal goes to 17-8 overall and 5-7 in ACC play with the loss, while Syracuse improves to 14-11, 5-7.

The Bears and Orange saw 22 lead changes during regulation with 11 ties, with Dai Dai Ames delivering that 11th equalizer to force overtime at 78-78. Cal shot 46.7 percent overall in regulation, making nine 3-pointers and going 13-of-18 from the free-throw line to help pull even after 40 minutes of action. Syracuse was shooting 51.7 percent overall to that point, with five threes and a 13-of-21 effort from the stripe. The teams were also even on the boards 33-33 to that point. By game's end, Cal wrapped at 45.5 percent overall, with 11 threes made and a 19-of-25 from the free-throw line. That was behind Syracuse's 53.5 percent overall output and 25-of-42 shooting from the free-throw line. The Orange claimed the final advantage on the boards 43-41 and forced a total of 16 turnovers out of the Bears while committing 12 of their own.

Cal was led by Dai Dai Ames' 23 points and 21 from John Camden. Chris Bell added 18 and Milos Ilic added a season-high 16 along with a career-high 14 rebounds, while Justin Pippen tallying 11 points before fouling out in the first overtime. Syracuse's Nate Kingz had a game-high 27 points to lead six Orange players in double figures on the night. JJ Starling had 21, joined by Donnie Freeman (16 points), William Hyle II (15), Naithan George (14) and Sadiq White Jr. (10) with double digits.

Cal built a 14-9 lead six minutes into the action before the Orange managed a 7-0 rally to edge into the lead, up 17-14 with 11:50 on the clock. Chris Bell stepped up and delivered an equalizer with a 3-pointer 20 seconds later for the Bears. John Camden landed his second three with 8:00 to go in the half, tallying his 1,000th career point and tugging Cal to a 24-23 lead. That bucket sparked a spurt by the Bears to lead it 28-23 on scores from Justin Pippen and DeJuan Campbell. A 3-pointer from Nolan Dorsey got Cal to its largest lead of the half, up 31-25 with 5:40 remaining. A rash of Cal turnovers helped Syracuse pull even at 35-35, and that would be the score for halftime.

Camden and Bell wrapped 3-pointers around an Orange equalizer, only to see Syracuse strike off on an 8-0 run soon after to build a 52-47 lead for the hosts with 12:40 on the clock. Cal chipped that deficit down with some nice work from TT Carr, and scores from Milos Ilic and Dai Dai Ames would push Cal ahead 57-56 at 10:00. It was a back-and-forth affair from there, tying up at 69-69 with 5:44 to go before Bell drained a three to get Cal ahead 72-69 at 5:30. The Bears were up 74-71 with 2:40 remaining with a score from Ames. Then Syracuse scooted on top 75-74. Ilic dropped in a pair of free throws to put Cal ahead 76-75 at 1:14 before a baseline three fell for the Orange. Ames pulled things even at 78-78 with 44 ticks to go, then forced a travel out of the Orange to get Cal back the ball. The Bears' last-second shot rolled off the rim, and Cal was on to its first overtime game of the season.

Bell hit a big 3-pointer for an 85-83 lead with 2:09 on the clock in OT, and a tough bucket from Ames had it as an 87-84 Bear lead with 1:25 remaining. Syracuse benefited from a three-point play to tie it up at 1:09, and then took an 89-87 lead with 39 seconds left. Unable to get a call in its favor on the offensive end, Cal fell behind 90-87 with 19 seconds left. A long two-pointer from Ames and a single free throw from Syracuse gave Cal a chance, and Ilic slipped in the putback to beat the buzzer and bring up a second OT with the score at 91-91. Pippen had fouled out in the first OT, leaving Cal without its second leading scorer for the next five minutes. The Bears were playing catchup from the outset as the Orange got some key early baskets and then held out from the free-throw line to claim a final 107-100 victory after 50 minutes of play. 

NEXT: The Bears now head to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to face Boston College at noon ET on Saturday (Feb. 14). After that, Cal returns to Berkeley to host rival Stanford at 3 p.m. PT on Feb. 21 at Haas Pavilion.

NOTABLE:
- John Camden scored his 1,000th career point tonight with his second 3-pointer of the game.
- With 21 total points, Camden scored in double digits for the 18th time this season.
- It was Camden's eighth 20-point outing of the season.
- Camden is the third Bear to score his 1,000th career point this season (Chris Bell and Rytis Petraitis)
- With 23 points, Dai Dai Ames scored in double figures for a team-best 22nd time this season.
- He has now scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season.
- With a season-high 16 points and career-high 14 rebounds, Milos Ilic recorded his first double-double at Cal and ninth of his collegiate career.
- With 11 points, Justin Pippen scored in double figures for the 21st time this season.
- With 18 points, Chris Bell hit double digits for the 19th time this season.
- Cal had five players in double digits for the fourth time this season.
- All five Cal starters scored in double digits for the second time this season.
- This was Cal's 25th 100-point game in program history and the first since a four-OT loss at Notre Dame on March 8, 2025.
- Cal is now 21-4 in 100-point games and 65-65 in overtime games.
- Now with seven games with 90+ points scored this season, Cal has registered the most such games in a season since 1970-71 (10).
- This was Cal's first-ever game in Syracuse, N.Y.

GET TICKETS
Tickets for 2025-26 Cal home games can be purchased by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets or calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277). 


SUPPORT THE BEARS 
Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men's Basketball Excellence Initiative.  

STAY POSTED 
For further coverage of Cal men's basketball, follow the Bears on X (@CalMBBall), Instagram (@CalMBBball) and Facebook (/CalMBBall/).

CALIFORNIA THROUGH AND THROUGH
"California Through and Through" is more than a slogan – it's a statement of identity, pride and our trajectory as Cal Men's Basketball. Just like our state, our program is engaging, diverse and inspiring. We have a rich history and legacy, and we have a bright future. Being California Through and Through means we celebrate our community and our place within it.