Chris Bell scores 31 as Cal opens NIT with win vs. UIC

Bell's career night leads Bears to first-round victory in Albuquerque region

Mar. 19, 2026 at 11:10am

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Chris Bell scored a career-high 31 points on 10-of-12 shooting, including 7 of 8 from 3-point range, to lead second-seeded Cal to a 91-73 win over Illinois-Chicago in the first round of the NIT's Albuquerque region on Wednesday night in Berkeley, California.

Why it matters

The win advances Cal to the next round of the NIT tournament, keeping their postseason hopes alive after missing out on the NCAA Tournament. For UIC, the loss ends their season after a valiant effort against the higher-seeded Bears.

The details

Bell's big night was more than enough for the Bears (22-11), who also got 18 points and 6 assists from Justin Pippen and 13 points from John Camden. UIC (19-16) was led by 15 points and 6 rebounds from Rashund Washington Jr., 14 points each from Abdul Momoh and Elijah Crawford (who also had 12 assists), but couldn't keep pace with Cal's hot shooting.

  • The game was played on Wednesday night in Berkeley, California.
  • Cal used a 9-0 scoring run right before halftime to take a 39-35 lead at the break.

The players

Chris Bell

A standout player for the Cal Bears, who scored a career-high 31 points in the NIT first-round win.

Justin Pippen

A key contributor for Cal, scoring 18 points and dishing out 6 assists.

Rashund Washington Jr.

The leading scorer for UIC with 15 points and 6 rebounds in the losing effort.

Elijah Crawford

UIC's playmaker, scoring 14 points and recording a game-high 12 assists.

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What’s next

Cal will advance to the next round of the NIT tournament, where they will face the winner of the matchup between New Mexico and UC Irvine.

The takeaway

Bell's explosive performance showcased his scoring ability and helped propel Cal to a first-round NIT victory, keeping their postseason hopes alive after missing out on the NCAA Tournament.