- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Georgia Tech Upsets California in Tight College Basketball Matchup
Yellow Jackets cover the spread as underdogs in road victory over Golden Bears
Published on Feb. 4, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets pulled off an upset victory over the California Golden Bears in a close college basketball matchup at Haas Pavilion. Despite being 7.5-point underdogs, the Yellow Jackets managed to cover the spread and defeat the Golden Bears by a final score of 79-77.
Why it matters
This win is a significant boost for the struggling Georgia Tech program, which had lost 7 of its last 9 games coming into this contest. Meanwhile, the loss is a setback for a California team that had been playing well, winning 3 of its last 4 games. The outcome of this game could have implications for both teams' postseason hopes as the season progresses.
The details
Georgia Tech was led by a trio of double-digit scorers, including Kowacie Reeves Jr. (15.8 PPG), Baye Ndongo (12.4 PPG, 8 RPG), and Lamar Washington (11.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.9 APG). California was paced by Dai Dai Ames (17.7 PPG, 2.5 APG), John Camden (15.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG), and Justin Pippen (14.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.3 APG). The game was tightly contested throughout, with neither team leading by more than 6 points at any point.
- The game took place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 8:00 PM EST.
- Georgia Tech will next face Stanford on the road.
The players
Kowacie Reeves Jr.
A key scorer for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, averaging 15.8 points per game this season.
Baye Ndongo
The leading rebounder for Georgia Tech, averaging 8 rebounds per game to go with 12.4 points per game.
Lamar Washington
The floor general for Georgia Tech, averaging 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and a team-high 5.9 assists per game.
Dai Dai Ames
The leading scorer for the California Golden Bears, averaging 17.7 points and 2.5 assists per game.
John Camden
A key contributor for California, averaging 15.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
What they’re saying
“We knew it was going to be a tough road game, but the guys really stepped up and played with a lot of heart and determination. I'm proud of the way they battled and found a way to get the win.”
— Josh Pastner, Head Coach, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
“It's a tough loss, but credit to Georgia Tech, they came in here and played a great game. We'll need to regroup and get ready for our next opponent.”
— Mark Fox, Head Coach, California Golden Bears (San Francisco Chronicle)
What’s next
Georgia Tech will look to build on this upset victory as they head on the road to face Stanford, while California will try to bounce back at home against Clemson.
The takeaway
This hard-fought win for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets demonstrates the team's resilience and ability to compete with top opponents, even on the road. Meanwhile, the loss for the California Golden Bears serves as a reminder that no team is unbeatable, and that any team can pull off an upset on a given night in college basketball.
