UCLA
5-2,0-0Big Ten
California
6-1,0-0ACC
No. 18 UCLA Drops 80-72 Decision to California
November 25, 2025 | Men's Basketball
SAN FRANCISCO – The No. 18-ranked UCLA men's basketball team fell to California, 80-72, in a nonconference game at Chase Center on Tuesday evening.
UCLA (5-2) trailed by as many as 13 points with 7:07 to go in the game before reducing California's margin to four points – at 71-67 – with 3:56 to play. Jamar Brown's corner 3-pointer trimmed the Bruins' deficit to four points. UCLA was unable to get any closer over the remaining four minutes of the game against California (6-1).
Trent Perry and Eric Dailey Jr. each scored a team-best 17 points. Dailey Jr. finished with seven rebounds. Xavier Booker had 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks in UCLA's second loss of the season.
"I think our team struggles to take a punch," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "We've got a glass jaw, if you were to describe us as a fighter. That goes into the missing free throws. I don't think it's skill at all, not from the guys that miss them. So all you can do is go back to work, that's it. Just go back to work and start pounding nails. We'll toughen up or it's going to be a long year."
The Bruins shot 40.6 percent overall from the field, made 7 of 22 attempts from 3-point distance (31.8%) and made 13 of 23 free throws (56.5%).
California had extended its lead to 13 points, at 69-56, before Dailey Jr. drilled a 3-pointer and Perry finished through contact at the rim to get the Bruins within eight points – at 69-61, with 5:49 remaining.
The Golden Bears took a 56-48 lead midway through the second half after a 3-point basket by Justin Pippen. Cal opened the second half by shooting 6-of-10 from the field and opened the half on a 16-5 scoring run.
Chris Bell finished with a team-best 22 points for the Golden Bears, who faced off against UCLA for the first time since February of 2024. Bell made 6 of 11 shots and was 5-for-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. He made each of his first five 3-point attempts.
Dai Dai Ames scored 14 points for California, and Justin Pippen finished with 13 points. Pippen connected on 3-of-6 attempts from 3-point distance and had a pair of steals.
Tuesday's contest featured six lead changes in the first half. The Bruins took a seven-point lead, at 40-33, courtesy of a Perry and-one opportunity at the line. UCLA led California at halftime, 41-36.
The first 10 minutes of the game featured a pair of large scoring runs. UCLA led 8-0 early, before California responded with a 20-4 scoring run to secure a 20-12 cushion. The Bruins battled back, as Skyy Clark finished at the rim with 8:36 to play in the opening half, putting UCLA back on top, 23-22. California's 20-4 scoring run put the Golden Bears ahead of UCLA, 20-12, with 12:54 left before halftime.
UCLA will open its Big Ten schedule with a pair of early-season conference games next week – the Bruins play at Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 3, before hosting Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 6. Game time next Wednesday in Seattle is set for 8 p.m. (PT). UCLA's game will be televised by Big Ten Network.
