Dai Dai Ames had a game-high 21 points, Lee Dort led a strong defensive effort with 14 rebounds and four blocks and Cal capped a historic nonconference schedule with a 74-56 triumph over Columbia on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif.
John Camden chipped in with 15 points for Cal (12-1), which completed the pre-Atlantic Coast Conference portion of its schedule with a ninth straight win.
Ames funneled 12 of his points into the first 20 minutes, when the Golden Bears, who never trailed, limited Columbia (9-3) to 16 points en route to taking a 12-point halftime lead.
Seeking a 10th win in an impressive nonconference run of their own, the Lions never got closer than nine in the second half.
Connor Igoe had 16 points and Mason Ritter 10 for the Lions, who lost their second straight after a 9-1 start. Igoe hit seven of his 11 shots, helping Columbia finish the game at 41.8% after its slow start.
Cal’s defense dominated the first half, allowing the visitors just seven field goals in 27 attempts and just one 3-pointer in six tries. The Golden Bears also forced 12 turnovers in the first 20 minutes, turning them into 10 points.
Cal managed to build a 12-point lead despite shooting only 25% overall and 2-for-12 from deep. The hosts helped themselves, though, with just one turnover in the period.
The Golden Bears wound up at just 42.1% from the field for the game, but nonetheless scored enough points to improve their record to the school’s best since Cal’s second straight run to the Final Four in 1960.
Dort’s 14 rebounds and four blocks were both career bests. In 63 previous college games over four seasons at Vanderbilt and Cal, he’d never had more than the 13 rebounds and three blocks he registered last Saturday against Northwestern State.
Chris Bell added 12 points for Cal, which outscored Columbia 21-12 on 3-pointers and 19-6 at the free-throw line. Justin Pippen returned from an injury to aid the cause with eight points, a game-high five assists and two steals.
Kenny Noland suffered through a 2-for-12 shooting game, but led Columbia in rebounds with seven and assists with four.
–Field Level Media
