Sunday, November 8
Lake Tahoe, Nev.
5:30 p.m. PT
California
68
vs
86
Houston
Michael Cooper scored 19 points for the Bears vs. No. 10 Houston.
Photo by: Brianna Ali/Cal Athletics
11/8/2026 8:26 PM | Men's Basketball
Michael Cooper Hits Double Digits Again For The Bears With 19 Points.
LAKE TAHOE, NEV. — The California men's basketball team came up against a tough ranked foe in Lake Tahoe tonight, taking an 86-68 loss to No. 10 Houston at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic. The Golden Bears are now 2-1 overall, and the Cougars are 2-0.
Houston was hitting at a 53-percent clip in the first half to outpace Cal's 40-percent effort, and the Cougars benefitted from 10 Bear turnovers in the half to build a 43-32 halftime advantage. Houston stayed the course offensively to finish out the game going 52.2 percent from the floor. Cal hit nine 3-pointers — five of which came from Michael Cooper — and finished out the game shooting 43.9 percent overall. Houston out rebounded Cal 35-31 and wrapped with 22 points scored off of Cal's 16 turnovers committed. The Cougars also converted 50 points in the paint to 24 from the Bears down low.
Cal was led by Cooper's 19 points, and Jordan Ross added 15 for the Bears with five assists served up. Houston received a game-high 20 points from Dedan Thomas Jr. and had three other Cougars finish in double figures — Joseph Tugler (16 points), Delrecco Gillespie (13) and Chase McCarty (11).
Cal had the Cougars within two points thanks in part to a couple fine finishes from Jordan Ross, who had the scoreline at 12-10 with 16:20 on the clock early. Houston would respond with a 10-1 rally as Cal buckets failed to fall for a stretch until Amier Ali landed a 3-pointer to make it 22-14 at 13:50. A nice take from Jovani Ruff registered a 24-16 margin, only to see the Cougars rattle off a an 8-0 reply to build a 32-16 advantage at the 9-minute mark of the half. Cal was undeterred by the deficit, upping its defense as the Cougars came up empty from the floor while the Bears carved in and made it a 35-25 margin. Ross and Michael Cooper both cashed in off steals during that push, which prompted a timeout from Houston with 6:00 on the clock. Cooper landed another three after the break, and Cal was within seven at 35-28 at 5:30. Houston found its scoring touch again and moved back out ahead before Jovani Ruff rounded out the half with two Cal free throws to make it 43-32 for halftime.
Cal got a spark from Cooper and Jovani Ruff midway through the second half, with Cooper hitting two more 3-pointers and Ruff delivering back-to-back buckets to make it 67-51. Cooper drained his fifth 3-pointer a few minutes later, and Ross followed with a take to the hoop, and Houston's lead was cut to 71-58 with 8:00 remaining. That would be as close as the Bears would get to the Cougars the rest of the way, though, and Cal wound up with an 86-68 loss by the final buzzer.
NOTABLE:
- Amier Ali hit his first 3-pointer as a Bear tonight.
- With a team-high 19 points tonight, Michael Cooper has scored in double digits in all three Cal games this season.
NEXT:
Cal returns to home turf next, hosting No. 21 USC in an 8 p.m. faceoff on Wednesday at Haas Pavilion.
CALIFORNIA THROUGH AND THROUGH
"California Through and Through" is more than a slogan – it's a statement of identity, pride and our trajectory as Cal men's basketball. Just like our state, our program is engaging, diverse and inspiring. We have a rich history and legacy, and we have a bright future. Being California Through and Through means we celebrate our community and our place within it.
No. 1 PUBLIC INSTITUTION
Four independent rankings measured outcomes, academics, research and innovation, and each put UC Berkeley first. Consensus across rankings tells one clear, memorable story, nationally and globally — multiple rankings, one verdict: UC Berkeley is on top. Go Bears!
GET TICKETS
Tickets for 2026-27 can be purchased by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets, calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or emailing goldstandard@berkeley.edu.
SUPPORT THE BEARS
Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men's Basketball Excellence Initiative.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's basketball, follow the Bears on X (@CalMBBall), Instagram (@CalMBBball) and Facebook (/CalMBBall/).
Houston was hitting at a 53-percent clip in the first half to outpace Cal's 40-percent effort, and the Cougars benefitted from 10 Bear turnovers in the half to build a 43-32 halftime advantage. Houston stayed the course offensively to finish out the game going 52.2 percent from the floor. Cal hit nine 3-pointers — five of which came from Michael Cooper — and finished out the game shooting 43.9 percent overall. Houston out rebounded Cal 35-31 and wrapped with 22 points scored off of Cal's 16 turnovers committed. The Cougars also converted 50 points in the paint to 24 from the Bears down low.
Cal was led by Cooper's 19 points, and Jordan Ross added 15 for the Bears with five assists served up. Houston received a game-high 20 points from Dedan Thomas Jr. and had three other Cougars finish in double figures — Joseph Tugler (16 points), Delrecco Gillespie (13) and Chase McCarty (11).
Cal had the Cougars within two points thanks in part to a couple fine finishes from Jordan Ross, who had the scoreline at 12-10 with 16:20 on the clock early. Houston would respond with a 10-1 rally as Cal buckets failed to fall for a stretch until Amier Ali landed a 3-pointer to make it 22-14 at 13:50. A nice take from Jovani Ruff registered a 24-16 margin, only to see the Cougars rattle off a an 8-0 reply to build a 32-16 advantage at the 9-minute mark of the half. Cal was undeterred by the deficit, upping its defense as the Cougars came up empty from the floor while the Bears carved in and made it a 35-25 margin. Ross and Michael Cooper both cashed in off steals during that push, which prompted a timeout from Houston with 6:00 on the clock. Cooper landed another three after the break, and Cal was within seven at 35-28 at 5:30. Houston found its scoring touch again and moved back out ahead before Jovani Ruff rounded out the half with two Cal free throws to make it 43-32 for halftime.
Cal got a spark from Cooper and Jovani Ruff midway through the second half, with Cooper hitting two more 3-pointers and Ruff delivering back-to-back buckets to make it 67-51. Cooper drained his fifth 3-pointer a few minutes later, and Ross followed with a take to the hoop, and Houston's lead was cut to 71-58 with 8:00 remaining. That would be as close as the Bears would get to the Cougars the rest of the way, though, and Cal wound up with an 86-68 loss by the final buzzer.
NOTABLE:
- Amier Ali hit his first 3-pointer as a Bear tonight.
- With a team-high 19 points tonight, Michael Cooper has scored in double digits in all three Cal games this season.
NEXT:
Cal returns to home turf next, hosting No. 21 USC in an 8 p.m. faceoff on Wednesday at Haas Pavilion.
CALIFORNIA THROUGH AND THROUGH
"California Through and Through" is more than a slogan – it's a statement of identity, pride and our trajectory as Cal men's basketball. Just like our state, our program is engaging, diverse and inspiring. We have a rich history and legacy, and we have a bright future. Being California Through and Through means we celebrate our community and our place within it.
No. 1 PUBLIC INSTITUTION
Four independent rankings measured outcomes, academics, research and innovation, and each put UC Berkeley first. Consensus across rankings tells one clear, memorable story, nationally and globally — multiple rankings, one verdict: UC Berkeley is on top. Go Bears!
GET TICKETS
Tickets for 2026-27 can be purchased by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets, calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or emailing goldstandard@berkeley.edu.
SUPPORT THE BEARS
Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men's Basketball Excellence Initiative.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's basketball, follow the Bears on X (@CalMBBall), Instagram (@CalMBBball) and Facebook (/CalMBBall/).
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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