Syracuse Orange Edges Cal Golden Bears in Close Battle

Naithan George's playmaking and William Kyle III's rim protection lead Syracuse to victory

Feb. 11, 2026 at 12:07pm

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In a closely contested college basketball matchup, the Syracuse Orange defeated the Cal Golden Bears 78-74. Syracuse's strong defensive presence, led by forward William Kyle III's 65 blocks on the season, proved to be the difference-maker as they were able to limit Cal's scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, guard Naithan George orchestrated the Orange's offense with 129 assists, including 65 in conference play, to keep Syracuse organized even as the pace of the game quickened. Cal's perimeter shooting and free throw accuracy, along with the scoring of guards Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen, kept them in the game until the final minutes.

Why it matters

This victory maintains Syracuse's position atop the conference standings, as they look to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume. For Cal, the loss is a missed opportunity to pick up a marquee win against a ranked opponent on the road, but the Golden Bears showed they can compete with the best teams in the country.

The details

Syracuse's dominant shot-blocking presence, led by forward William Kyle III's 65 blocks on the season, was a key factor in the game. The Orange's ability to erase drives to the rim and force Cal to settle for perimeter shots neutralized the Golden Bears' spacing advantage. On the offensive end, Syracuse guard Naithan George's 129 assists, including 65 in conference play, helped keep the Orange's offense organized and flowing even as the pace of the game increased. For Cal, guards Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen provided the scoring punch, with Ames averaging 17.0 points per game and Pippen scoring in double figures in every ACC contest. The Golden Bears' strong perimeter shooting (37.4% from three) and free throw accuracy (78.5%) also kept them within striking distance throughout the game.

  • Syracuse and Cal faced off on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

William Kyle III

A forward for the Syracuse Orange who is tied for second in Division I with 65 blocks on the season, anchoring the team's dominant shot-blocking presence.

Naithan George

A guard for the Syracuse Orange who has 129 assists on the season, including 65 in conference play, helping to keep the Orange's offense organized.

Dai Dai Ames

A guard for the Cal Golden Bears who is averaging 17.0 points per game and has scored in double figures in all but three games this season.

Justin Pippen

A guard for the Cal Golden Bears who has scored in double figures in every ACC game and is averaging 17.5 points per game over his last six contests.

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What they’re saying

“William Kyle III's shot-blocking presence was the difference-maker in this game. He just erased so many of our drives to the rim.”

— Justin Pippen, Guard, Cal Golden Bears

“Naithan George did a great job of keeping our offense organized and flowing, even when Cal tried to speed up the pace. His playmaking was crucial.”

— Jim Boeheim, Head Coach, Syracuse Orange

What’s next

Syracuse will look to build on this victory as they continue their conference schedule, while Cal will aim to rebound and pick up a marquee win in their next game.

The takeaway

This game showcased the strengths of both teams, with Syracuse's dominant interior defense and Cal's efficient perimeter shooting and free throw accuracy making for a closely contested affair. The outcome highlights the importance of complementary skills and the ability to adapt to different styles of play at the highest levels of college basketball.