Dai Dai Ames' four-point play in final seconds lifts Cal to 72-71 victory over Notre Dame
AP
Jan 03, 2026
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) Dai Dai Ames had a four-point play with five seconds left, scoring 18 of his 23 points in the second half to rally California Golden Bears to a 72-71 victory over Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday night.
Ames' heroics also included a 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining that cut Notre Dame's lead to 69-68. The junior made 9 of 16 shots - 4 of 9 from beyond the arc.
Chris Bell had 15 points and Justin Pippen scored 14 for the Golden Bears (13-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Lee Dort had 11 rebounds.
Braeden Shrewsberry sank five 3-pointers and scored 21 to pace the Fighting Irish (10-5, 1-1). Shrewsberry was 6 for 6 at the free-throw line, while his teammates made 10 of 20. Jalen Haralson had 17 points and Cole Certa made three 3-pointers and scored 16 off the bench. Carson Towt had 15 rebounds to go with eight points.
Certa hit a 3-pointer to give the Fighting Irish their largest lead at 25-13 with 8:36 left before halftime. Semetri Carr's only basket of the half was a 3-pointer with two seconds left, cutting the Golden Bears' deficit to 31-27 at the break.
Pippen hit a 3-pointer to finish a 17-11 run at the start of the second half and Cal moved ahead 44-42 - its first lead since 5-2 - with 14:13 left to play.
The Bears played with a lead until Certa hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Irish a 65-63 lead with 3:10 remaining.
The Irish beat the visiting Bears 112-110 in four overtimes in March - their first matchup as ACC rivals.
California: At No. 21 Virginia on Wednesday.
Notre Dame: Hosts Clemson on Jan. 10.
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1st Half
ND
Fighting Irish
31
CAL
Golden Bears
27
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Carson Towt vs. Lee Dort (Logan Imes gains possession)
19:40
+2
Jalen Haralson makes two point jump shot
2-0
19:25
John Camden misses three point jump shot
19:23
Golden Bears offensive rebound
19:21
+3
Dai Dai Ames makes three point jump shot (John Camden assists)
2-3
18:56
Braeden Shrewsberry misses three point jump shot
18:54
Chris Bell defensive rebound
18:44
Dai Dai Ames misses three point jump shot
18:42
Logan Imes defensive rebound
18:32
Braeden Shrewsberry misses two point jump shot
18:30
John Camden defensive rebound
18:25
+2
Justin Pippen makes two point jump shot
2-5
18:25
Braeden Shrewsberry shooting foul (Justin Pippen draws the foul)
18:22
Justin Pippen misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:22
Justin Pippen offensive rebound
18:09
John Camden misses three point jump shot
18:07
Braeden Shrewsberry defensive rebound
18:00
Justin Pippen personal foul
17:56
Garrett Sundra misses three point jump shot
17:54
Carson Towt offensive rebound
17:45
+2
Jalen Haralson makes two point layup
4-5
17:12
Dai Dai Ames misses three point jump shot
17:10
Jalen Haralson defensive rebound
16:51
+3
Jalen Haralson makes three point jump shot (Carson Towt assists)
7-5
16:24
Justin Pippen misses three point jump shot
16:22
Garrett Sundra defensive rebound
16:14
Garrett Sundra misses three point jump shot
16:12
Dai Dai Ames defensive rebound
15:53
Lee Dort misses two point layup
15:51
Lee Dort offensive rebound
15:41
Lee Dort misses two point layup
15:39
Lee Dort offensive rebound
15:31
+2
Lee Dort makes two point layup
7-7
15:17
+3
Jalen Haralson makes three point jump shot (Braeden Shrewsberry assists)
10-7
14:56
John Camden misses three point jump shot
14:54
Braeden Shrewsberry defensive rebound
14:35
+3
Braeden Shrewsberry makes three point jump shot (Carson Towt assists)
13-7
14:10
Jalen Haralson shooting foul (Chris Bell draws the foul)
14:10
TV timeout
14:10
+1
Chris Bell makes regular free throw 1 of 2
13-8
14:10
+1
Chris Bell makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-9
13:48
+2
Brady Koehler makes two point jump shot
15-9
13:19
Justin Pippen misses three point jump shot
13:17
Logan Imes defensive rebound
12:58
+3
Brady Koehler makes three point jump shot (Sir Mohammed assists)
18-9
12:23
Justin Pippen misses two point jump shot
12:21
Kebba Njie defensive rebound
12:12
Braeden Shrewsberry misses two point layup
12:10
Milos Ilic defensive rebound
11:59
Brady Koehler personal foul
11:59
TV timeout
11:52
Brady Koehler personal foul
11:44
Nolan Dorsey misses three point jump shot
11:42
Fighting Irish defensive rebound
11:25
Sir Mohammed turnover (Milos Ilic steals)
11:17
+2
Milos Ilic makes two point dunk
18-11
10:52
Garrett Sundra misses three point jump shot
10:50
Semetri Carr defensive rebound
10:35
Semetri Carr misses three point jump shot
10:33
Logan Imes defensive rebound
10:24
+2
Cole Certa makes two point jump shot
20-11
9:52
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point jump shot (Milos Ilic assists)
20-13
9:25
+3
Cole Certa makes three point jump shot (Logan Imes assists)
23-13
9:09
Sir Mohammed personal foul
8:58
John Camden misses three point jump shot
8:56
Mark Zackery IV defensive rebound
8:39
+2
Mark Zackery IV makes two point layup
25-13
8:19
+2
Milos Ilic makes two point layup (Semetri Carr assists)
25-15
8:19
Garrett Sundra shooting foul (Milos Ilic draws the foul)
8:19
+1
Milos Ilic makes regular free throw 1 of 1
25-16
7:58
Cole Certa misses three point jump shot
7:56
Lee Dort defensive rebound
7:31
Nolan Dorsey misses three point jump shot
7:29
Garrett Sundra defensive rebound
7:13
Cole Certa misses three point jump shot
7:11
Cole Certa offensive rebound
7:10
Lee Dort shooting foul (Jalen Haralson draws the foul)
7:10
TV timeout
7:10
Jalen Haralson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:09
Jalen Haralson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:09
Chris Bell defensive rebound
6:51
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
6:49
Garrett Sundra defensive rebound
6:39
Braeden Shrewsberry misses three point jump shot
6:37
Lee Dort defensive rebound
6:21
Mark Zackery IV personal foul
6:21
+1
Justin Pippen makes regular free throw 1 of 2
25-17
6:21
Justin Pippen misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:21
Jalen Haralson defensive rebound
5:48
Jalen Haralson misses two point jump shot
5:46
Justin Pippen defensive rebound
5:37
Jalen Haralson blocks Justin Pippen's two point layup
5:35
Braeden Shrewsberry defensive rebound
5:21
Braeden Shrewsberry misses two point jump shot
5:21
Braeden Shrewsberry offensive rebound
5:21
Braeden Shrewsberry misses two point jump shot
5:19
Lee Dort defensive rebound
5:04
+3
Justin Pippen makes three point jump shot
25-20
4:54
+2
Carson Towt makes two point dunk (Logan Imes assists)
27-20
4:31
Lee Dort turnover
4:19
Milos Ilic personal foul
4:06
Milos Ilic blocks Logan Imes's two point layup
4:04
Chris Bell defensive rebound
3:53
Logan Imes personal foul
3:53
TV timeout
3:53
+1
Chris Bell makes regular free throw 1 of 2
27-21
3:53
+1
Chris Bell makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-22
3:40
+2
Carson Towt makes two point dunk (Logan Imes assists)
29-22
3:39
Milos Ilic shooting foul (Carson Towt draws the foul)
3:39
Carson Towt misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:39
Lee Dort defensive rebound
3:14
+2
Chris Bell makes two point jump shot
29-24
2:55
Sir Mohammed misses two point layup
2:55
Fighting Irish offensive rebound
2:55
Semetri Carr personal foul
2:42
Lee Dort shooting foul (Sir Mohammed draws the foul)
2:42
Sir Mohammed misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:42
Sir Mohammed misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:42
Sir Mohammed offensive rebound
2:26
Cole Certa misses three point jump shot
2:24
John Camden defensive rebound
2:18
John Camden misses three point jump shot
2:16
Logan Imes defensive rebound
2:16
Lee Dort personal foul
2:16
+1
Braeden Shrewsberry makes regular free throw 1 of 2
30-24
2:16
+1
Braeden Shrewsberry makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-24
1:57
Braeden Shrewsberry personal foul
1:57
Chris Bell misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:57
Carson Towt defensive rebound
1:50
Logan Imes misses three point jump shot
1:48
Jalen Haralson offensive rebound
1:41
Jalen Haralson misses two point layup
1:39
John Camden defensive rebound
1:30
Dai Dai Ames misses three point jump shot
1:28
Mantas Kocanas offensive rebound
1:19
Mantas Kocanas misses two point layup
1:17
Carson Towt defensive rebound
1:01
Jalen Haralson misses two point layup
0:59
Golden Bears defensive rebound
0:37
Chris Bell turnover
0:14
Semetri Carr personal foul
0:14
Cole Certa misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:14
Chris Bell defensive rebound
0:02
+3
Semetri Carr makes three point jump shot (Dai Dai Ames assists)
31-27
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
ND
Fighting Irish
40
CAL
Golden Bears
45
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:45
+2
Lee Dort makes two point layup (Justin Pippen assists)
31-29
19:29
Chris Bell shooting foul (Jalen Haralson draws the foul)
19:29
+1
Jalen Haralson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-29
19:29
Jalen Haralson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:29
Milos Ilic defensive rebound
19:09
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
19:07
Justin Pippen offensive rebound
18:57
Justin Pippen misses three point jump shot
18:55
Milos Ilic offensive rebound
18:47
+3
Dai Dai Ames makes three point jump shot (Justin Pippen assists)
32-32
18:29
Milos Ilic personal foul
18:18
+3
Braeden Shrewsberry makes three point jump shot (Logan Imes assists)
35-32
18:00
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
17:58
Carson Towt defensive rebound
17:40
+2
Carson Towt makes two point dunk (Jalen Haralson assists)
37-32
17:18
+3
Justin Pippen makes three point jump shot (John Camden assists)
37-35
16:59
+2
Jalen Haralson makes two point jump shot
39-35
16:40
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point jump shot
39-37
16:22
Braeden Shrewsberry misses three point jump shot
16:20
Lee Dort defensive rebound
16:13
Garrett Sundra shooting foul (Justin Pippen draws the foul)
16:13
TV timeout
16:13
+1
Justin Pippen makes regular free throw 1 of 2
39-38
16:13
+1
Justin Pippen makes regular free throw 2 of 2
39-39
15:57
+3
Braeden Shrewsberry makes three point jump shot (Logan Imes assists)
42-39
15:39
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point layup
42-41
15:12
Logan Imes misses three point jump shot
15:10
Lee Dort defensive rebound
14:53
Dai Dai Ames misses three point jump shot
14:51
Carson Towt defensive rebound
14:43
Jalen Haralson turnover (bad pass)
14:20
Kebba Njie personal foul
14:13
+3
Justin Pippen makes three point jump shot (Dai Dai Ames assists)
42-44
13:43
Jalen Haralson misses three point jump shot
13:41
Fighting Irish offensive rebound
13:40
Dai Dai Ames personal foul
13:39
Kebba Njie offensive foul
13:39
Kebba Njie turnover (offensive foul)
13:10
+2
Chris Bell makes two point jump shot
42-46
12:45
+2
Sir Mohammed makes two point layup
44-46
12:28
Brady Koehler personal foul
12:09
Milos Ilic misses two point jump shot
12:07
Logan Imes defensive rebound
11:39
TV timeout
11:29
Sir Mohammed misses three point jump shot
11:27
Semetri Carr defensive rebound
11:15
+3
Chris Bell makes three point jump shot (Semetri Carr assists)
44-49
11:02
Brady Koehler misses three point jump shot
11:00
Justin Pippen defensive rebound
10:55
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
10:53
Brady Koehler defensive rebound
10:50
Dai Dai Ames shooting foul (Cole Certa draws the foul)
10:50
+1
Cole Certa makes regular free throw 1 of 2
45-49
10:50
+1
Cole Certa makes regular free throw 2 of 2
46-49
10:44
Dai Dai Ames turnover
10:34
Braeden Shrewsberry misses two point layup
10:32
Milos Ilic defensive rebound
10:32
John Camden misses three point jump shot
10:30
Golden Bears offensive rebound
10:17
Dai Dai Ames misses two point layup
10:15
Carson Towt defensive rebound
10:06
Cole Certa turnover (Semetri Carr steals)
10:00
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point jump shot
46-51
9:46
Cole Certa misses three point jump shot
9:44
Carson Towt offensive rebound
9:37
+3
Braeden Shrewsberry makes three point jump shot (Jalen Haralson assists)
49-51
9:20
+3
John Camden makes three point jump shot (Semetri Carr assists)
49-54
9:00
Cole Certa misses two point layup
8:58
Carson Towt offensive rebound
8:50
Carson Towt turnover (John Camden steals)
8:43
John Camden misses three point jump shot
8:41
Carson Towt defensive rebound
8:30
Dai Dai Ames personal foul
8:30
Golden Bears 30 second timeout
8:30
TV timeout
8:24
+3
Braeden Shrewsberry makes three point jump shot (Jalen Haralson assists)
52-54
8:01
+3
Semetri Carr makes three point jump shot (John Camden assists)
52-57
7:38
Lee Dort personal foul
7:38
TV timeout
7:33
Braeden Shrewsberry misses three point jump shot
7:31
Carson Towt offensive rebound
7:22
Jalen Haralson turnover (Justin Pippen steals)
7:15
+2
Chris Bell makes two point dunk (Justin Pippen assists)
52-59
7:00
Chris Bell shooting foul (Jalen Haralson draws the foul)
7:00
+1
Jalen Haralson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-59
7:00
+1
Jalen Haralson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-59
6:47
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
6:45
Carson Towt defensive rebound
6:43
John Camden personal foul
6:43
+1
Cole Certa makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-59
6:43
+1
Cole Certa makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-59
6:28
+2
Milos Ilic makes two point layup (Dai Dai Ames assists)
56-61
6:09
Braeden Shrewsberry misses three point jump shot
6:07
Carson Towt offensive rebound
6:02
+2
Carson Towt makes two point layup
58-61
5:43
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point layup
58-63
5:30
Milos Ilic shooting foul (Jalen Haralson draws the foul)
5:30
Jalen Haralson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:30
+1
Jalen Haralson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
59-63
5:14
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
5:12
Logan Imes defensive rebound
4:51
Logan Imes turnover (bad pass)
4:32
Dai Dai Ames misses three point jump shot
4:30
Braeden Shrewsberry defensive rebound
4:22
+3
Cole Certa makes three point jump shot (Jalen Haralson assists)
62-63
4:21
Golden Bears 30 second timeout
4:21
TV timeout
4:01
John Camden misses two point jump shot
3:59
Cole Certa defensive rebound
3:45
Kebba Njie misses two point layup
3:43
Lee Dort defensive rebound
3:22
Justin Pippen misses three point jump shot
3:20
Logan Imes defensive rebound
3:10
+3
Cole Certa makes three point jump shot (Logan Imes assists)
65-63
2:48
Kebba Njie personal foul
2:42
Nolan Dorsey misses three point jump shot
2:40
Carson Towt defensive rebound
2:16
Logan Imes misses three point jump shot
2:14
Lee Dort defensive rebound
2:01
Lee Dort misses two point layup
1:59
Carson Towt defensive rebound
1:28
Cole Certa misses two point jump shot
1:26
Carson Towt offensive rebound
1:26
Fighting Irish 30 second timeout
1:17
Braeden Shrewsberry misses three point jump shot
1:15
Chris Bell defensive rebound
0:51
Dai Dai Ames misses two point jump shot
0:49
Jalen Haralson defensive rebound
0:45
Nolan Dorsey personal foul
0:45
Jalen Haralson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:45
+1
Jalen Haralson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
66-63
0:39
John Camden misses three point jump shot
0:37
Lee Dort offensive rebound
0:30
Justin Pippen misses three point jump shot
0:28
Logan Imes defensive rebound
0:28
John Camden personal foul (Cole Certa draws the foul)
0:28
Cole Certa misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:28
+1
Cole Certa makes regular free throw 2 of 2
67-63
0:19
+2
Chris Bell makes two point layup
67-65
0:19
Golden Bears 60 second timeout
0:19
Fighting Irish 30 second timeout
0:16
John Camden personal foul (Braeden Shrewsberry draws the foul)
0:16
+1
Braeden Shrewsberry makes regular free throw 1 of 2
68-65
0:16
+1
Braeden Shrewsberry makes regular free throw 2 of 2
69-65
0:11
+3
Dai Dai Ames makes three point jump shot
69-68
0:09
Semetri Carr personal foul (Braeden Shrewsberry draws the foul)
0:09
+1
Braeden Shrewsberry makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-68
0:09
+1
Braeden Shrewsberry makes regular free throw 2 of 2
71-68
0:05
+3
Dai Dai Ames makes three point jump shot
71-71
0:05
Logan Imes shooting foul (Dai Dai Ames draws the foul)
