California Golden Bears Edge Notre Dame Fighting Irish 72-71
Friday, January 2, 2026, 11:00 PM ET · Haas Pavilion
California Golden Bears 72, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs California Golden Bears?
California Golden Bears beat Notre Dame Fighting Irish 72-71 at Haas Pavilion on January 2, 2026.
Who was favored in Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs California Golden Bears?
California Golden Bears were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -170 (about 63% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling matchup, the California Golden Bears narrowly defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 72-71 at Haas Pavilion. This game showcased the intensity and competitiveness of college basketball, with both teams displaying resilience and skill throughout the contest. California entered the game with a strong home record of 13-2, while Notre Dame brought a respectable 10-5 record on the road. The stakes were high as both teams aimed to solidify their standing in the league.
California's recent form had been impressive, boasting a record of 9-1 in their last ten games, although they faced a setback in their most recent outing against the Louisville Cardinals, losing 70-90. Despite this loss, the Golden Bears had averaged 79.7 points scored and allowed 66.6 points over their last ten games, indicating a potent offense and a solid defense. Their performance at home had been particularly strong, with a home record of 9-1.
In contrast, Notre Dame had also been performing well, with a record of 7-3 in their last ten games and riding a one-game winning streak after defeating the Stanford Cardinal 47-40. The Fighting Irish had averaged 71.2 points scored and 67.0 points allowed during this stretch. Their away record stood at 2-2, showcasing some challenges on the road but also a capacity to compete fiercely.
Historically, this matchup had favored Notre Dame, as California had previously lost to them 110-112 in their last meeting on March 8, 2025. This context added an extra layer of intrigue to the game, as the Golden Bears sought redemption on their home court.
Injuries were not reported as a significant factor affecting either team in this game, allowing both squads to field their best players. The betting market reflected California's status as the favored team, with DraftKings listing them at -3.5 on the spread and a moneyline of -170. Notre Dame was offered at +142 on the moneyline, indicating that the market viewed them as the underdog.
The game conditions were conducive for an exciting matchup, with both teams ready to battle it out in front of a lively home crowd. As the game progressed, the tension mounted, and the lead changed hands multiple times. Key moments included Chris Bell's driving layup that brought the score to 67-65 in favor of Notre Dame, followed by Braeden Shrewsberry's free throws extending their lead to 69-65.
California fought back, with Dai Dai Ames hitting a crucial 25-foot three-pointer, bringing the score to 69-68. Shrewsberry continued to contribute for Notre Dame, making more free throws to push the lead to 71-68. However, Ames responded again with another three-pointer, tying the game at 71-71.
In the final moments, Ames sealed the victory for California with a free throw, ending the game at 72-71. The Golden Bears' ability to execute under pressure and make critical plays down the stretch proved decisive.
This matchup was a testament to the competitive nature of college basketball, highlighting the skill and determination of both teams. Fans witnessed a closely contested game that could have gone either way, but ultimately, California emerged victorious, improving their record to 14-2 while Notre Dame fell to 10-6.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CAL -3.5 | 138.5 o -112 / u -108 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish +142 · California Golden Bears -170 |
Leaders
- PointsDai Dai Ames23California Golden Bears
- AssistsDai Dai Ames3California Golden Bears
- ReboundsLee Dort11California Golden Bears
- PointsBraeden Shrewsberry21Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- AssistsLogan Imes6Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- ReboundsCarson Towt15Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Recent form
California Golden Bears
Last 10: 9-1Streak L179.7 scored · 66.6 allowed per game9-1 at home
- L70-90vs Louisville CardinalsDec 31
- W74-56vs Columbia LionsDec 21
- W97-50vs Morgan State BearsDec 20
- W79-70vs Northwestern State DemonsDec 13
- W93-71vs Dominican (CA) PenguinsDec 10
- W67-61vs Pacific TigersDec 6
- W79-72vs Utah UtesDec 3
- W80-72vs UCLA BruinsNov 26
- W91-67vs Sacramento State HornetsNov 22
- W67-57vs Presbyterian Blue HoseNov 19
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last 10: 7-3Streak W171.2 scored · 67 allowed per game2-2 away
- W47-40at Stanford CardinalDec 31
- L69-72vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsDec 21
- W82-58vs Evansville Purple AcesDec 13
- W80-65vs Idaho VandalsDec 11
- W87-85at TCU Horned FrogsDec 6
- W76-71vs Missouri TigersDec 3
- L56-66at Houston CougarsNov 26
- W68-63vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsNov 25
- L61-71at Kansas JayhawksNov 24
- W86-79vs Bellarmine KnightsNov 20
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | California Golden Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-55 | 26-64 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 41 |
| Three-pointers | 11-31 | 11-39 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 28 |
| Free throws | 16-26 | 9-12 |
| Free throw % | 62 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 44 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 32 | 25 |
| Assists | 14 | 13 |
| Steals | 0 | 4 |
| Blocks | 1 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 3 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 0 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 18 | 24 |
| Fouls | 15 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 62 | 34 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half37-32Carson Towt makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half37-35Justin Pippen makes 26-foot three point jumper (John Camden assists)
- 2nd Half39-35Jalen Haralson makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half39-37Dai Dai Ames makes 17-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half39-38Justin Pippen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-39Justin Pippen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-39Braeden Shrewsberry makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half42-41Dai Dai Ames makes driving layup
- 2nd Half42-44Justin Pippen makes 27-foot three point jumper (Dai Dai Ames assists)
- 2nd Half42-46Chris Bell makes 10-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half44-46Sir Mohammed makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-49Chris Bell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Semetri Carr assists)
- 2nd Half45-49Cole Certa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-49Cole Certa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-51Dai Dai Ames makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half49-51Braeden Shrewsberry makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jalen Haralson assists)
- 2nd Half49-54John Camden makes 25-foot three point jumper (Semetri Carr assists)
- 2nd Half52-54Braeden Shrewsberry makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jalen Haralson assists)
- 2nd Half52-57Semetri Carr makes 26-foot three point jumper (John Camden assists)
- 2nd Half52-59Chris Bell makes 0-foot alley oop dunk
- 2nd Half53-59Jalen Haralson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-59Jalen Haralson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-59Cole Certa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-59Cole Certa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-61Milos Ilic makes layup (Dai Dai Ames assists)
- 2nd Half58-61Carson Towt makes layup
- 2nd Half58-63Dai Dai Ames makes driving layup
- 2nd Half59-63Jalen Haralson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-63Cole Certa makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jalen Haralson assists)
- 2nd Half65-63Cole Certa makes 23-foot three point jumper (Logan Imes assists)
- 2nd Half66-63Jalen Haralson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-63Cole Certa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-65Chris Bell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half68-65Braeden Shrewsberry makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-65Braeden Shrewsberry makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-68Dai Dai Ames makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half70-68Braeden Shrewsberry makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-68Braeden Shrewsberry makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-71Dai Dai Ames makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half71-72Dai Dai Ames makes free throw 1 of 1
Win probability
Above the line favours California Golden Bears, below favours Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Venue
- Haas PavilionBerkeley, CA
- Attendance5158
- OfficialsRick Crawford, Tommy Morrissey, Adam Flore
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond