Cal bests Stanford 72-66 for regular-season sweep

Chris Bell scores 20 points to lead Golden Bears to victory

Feb. 22, 2026 at 1:36am

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The California Golden Bears defeated the Stanford Cardinal 72-66 on Saturday, completing a regular-season sweep over their Pac-12 rivals for the first time since 2009-10. Chris Bell led the way for Cal with 20 points, while John Camden added 18 points and 8 rebounds. Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Why it matters

The victory marks an important milestone for the Cal basketball program, which has struggled against Stanford in recent years, losing five straight prior to this season. The win also keeps the Golden Bears in the hunt for a strong finish to the regular season and potential postseason berth.

The details

Cal built a 39-25 halftime lead after a 12-1 run, with 5 points from Chris Bell. Stanford mounted a late 7-0 run in the final 1:14 to cut the deficit to 71-66, but a free throw from John Camden and missed 3-pointers from the Cardinal sealed the result. Ebuka Okorie's double-double was a bright spot for Stanford, as the freshman continues to have an impressive season.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.

The players

Chris Bell

A key player for the California Golden Bears, scoring 20 points to lead his team to victory.

Ebuka Okorie

A standout freshman for the Stanford Cardinal, recording his first career double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Mark Madsen

The head coach of the California Golden Bears, who is a Stanford alum.

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What’s next

Stanford will host Pittsburgh on Wednesday, while Cal will host SMU on the same day.

The takeaway

The California Golden Bears' victory over their in-state rivals Stanford marks an important milestone, as they complete their first regular-season sweep of the Cardinal since 2009-10. This win keeps Cal in contention for a strong finish to the season and potential postseason berth, while also showcasing the continued development of Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie.