Malik Thomas scores 20 and No. 23 Virginia moves to 9-0 at home with 84-60 win over Cal
AP
Jan 07, 2026
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Malik Thomas scored 20 points and No. 23 Virginia Cavaliers beat California Golden Bears 84-60 in its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener Wednesday night, scoring at least 80 points for the 14th time in 15 games this season.
Johann Grunloh, Thijs De Ridder, Sam Lewis and Ugonna Onyenso each added 12 for the Cavaliers (13-2, 2-1), who assisted on 23 of 30 baskets and dominated the glass with 45-26 edge in rebounding.
Virginia has won two straight since a triple-overtime loss at rival Virginia Tech on New Year's Eve.
Former Virginia guard Dai Dai Ames, who transferred to Cal after last year and is the team's leading scorer this season, had 18 points for the Golden Bears (13-3, 1-2).
Justin Pippen, son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, added 17 points and Virginia Tech transfer John Camden finished with 15.
Virginia outscored Cal 23-11 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to go to the locker room up 43-33. The Cavaliers pulled away by opening the second half on an 18-4 run as they improved to 9-0 at home.
Virginia held Cal to 35% shooting from the floor and blocked nine shots, with four coming from Onyenso, who also had nine rebounds.
About the only blemish for Virginia was another rough night at the free-throw line. First-year coach Ryan Odom's squad came into the game ranked 14th out of 18 teams in the league in free-throw shooting, and went 15 for 23.
Cal: The Golden Bears continue their visit to the Commonwealth of Virginia when they play Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Virginia: Hosts the ACC’s other recent West Coast addition, Stanford, on Saturday.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
CAL
Golden Bears
33
UVA
Cavaliers
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Cavaliers gains possession)
19:41
+2
Johann Grunloh makes two point layup (Thijs De Ridder assists)
0-2
19:23
+3
John Camden makes three point jump shot (Justin Pippen assists)
3-2
19:02
Thijs De Ridder misses two point layup
19:00
Thijs De Ridder offensive rebound
18:59
+2
Thijs De Ridder makes two point layup
3-4
18:52
Justin Pippen misses three point jump shot
18:50
Cavaliers defensive rebound
18:32
+3
Malik Thomas makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)
3-7
18:09
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point layup
5-7
17:55
Malik Thomas misses three point jump shot
17:53
Dallin Hall offensive rebound
17:46
Malik Thomas misses three point jump shot
17:44
Johann Grunloh offensive rebound
17:36
Dai Dai Ames shooting foul (Malik Thomas draws the foul)
17:36
Malik Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:36
+1
Malik Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
5-8
17:19
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point dunk (John Camden assists)
7-8
17:04
Ugonna Onyenso misses two point hook shot
17:02
John Camden defensive rebound
16:39
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
16:37
Thijs De Ridder defensive rebound
16:29
Ugonna Onyenso misses two point layup
16:27
Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound
16:25
+2
Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup
7-10
16:05
Malik Thomas blocks Dai Dai Ames's two point jump shot
16:03
Malik Thomas defensive rebound
15:59
+2
Sam Lewis makes two point dunk (Malik Thomas assists)
7-12
15:42
Ugonna Onyenso blocks Lee Dort's two point layup
15:40
Dallin Hall defensive rebound
15:36
Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
15:34
Lee Dort defensive rebound
15:12
Malik Thomas personal foul
15:12
TV timeout
15:04
Elijah Gertrude shooting foul
15:04
+1
Justin Pippen makes regular free throw 1 of 2
8-12
15:04
+1
Justin Pippen makes regular free throw 2 of 2
9-12
14:38
Ugonna Onyenso turnover (Justin Pippen steals)
14:30
+2
John Camden makes two point layup (Milos Ilic assists)
11-12
14:13
+2
Sam Lewis makes two point layup
11-14
13:49
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point jump shot (Milos Ilic assists)
13-14
13:14
Devin Tillis turnover (Justin Pippen steals)
13:08
Justin Pippen misses three point jump shot
13:06
Elijah Gertrude defensive rebound
13:06
DeJuan Campbell personal foul
12:52
Devin Tillis misses three point jump shot
12:51
Cavaliers offensive rebound
12:51
Milos Ilic personal foul
12:45
Milos Ilic shooting foul (Johann Grunloh draws the foul)
12:45
Johann Grunloh misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:45
+1
Johann Grunloh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-15
12:32
Dallin Hall shooting foul
12:32
+1
Dai Dai Ames makes regular free throw 1 of 2
14-15
12:32
+1
Dai Dai Ames makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-15
12:08
Mantas Kocanas personal foul
12:02
TV timeout
11:58
Mantas Kocanas blocks Thijs De Ridder's two point layup
11:56
Cavaliers offensive rebound
11:48
+2
Thijs De Ridder makes two point layup (Sam Lewis assists)
15-17
11:48
Justin Pippen shooting foul
11:47
Thijs De Ridder misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:47
Nolan Dorsey defensive rebound
11:24
+2
Justin Pippen makes two point layup (Mantas Kocanas assists)
17-17
11:01
Sam Lewis misses three point jump shot
10:59
Justin Pippen defensive rebound
10:51
+2
Justin Pippen makes two point jump shot
19-17
10:27
+3
Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot (Chance Mallory assists)
19-20
10:01
+3
Justin Pippen makes three point jump shot
22-20
9:47
+3
Thijs De Ridder makes three point jump shot (Chance Mallory assists)
22-23
9:35
Justin Pippen turnover (Chance Mallory steals)
9:27
+3
Chance Mallory makes three point jump shot (Sam Lewis assists)
22-26
9:27
Golden Bears 30 second timeout
9:13
+2
Semetri Carr makes two point jump shot
24-26
8:37
Devin Tillis misses three point jump shot
8:35
Semetri Carr defensive rebound
8:24
Chris Bell misses two point jump shot
8:22
Devin Tillis defensive rebound
8:11
+2
Sam Lewis makes two point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)
24-28
7:35
+2
Semetri Carr makes two point jump shot
26-28
7:27
John Camden shooting foul
7:27
TV timeout
7:27
+1
Malik Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-29
7:27
Malik Thomas misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:27
Semetri Carr defensive rebound
6:58
John Camden offensive foul
6:58
John Camden turnover (offensive foul)
6:44
Chris Bell shooting foul
6:44
+1
Sam Lewis makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-30
6:44
+1
Sam Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-31
6:18
Justin Pippen misses two point jump shot
6:16
Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound
6:08
+3
Malik Thomas makes three point jump shot (Chance Mallory assists)
26-34
5:50
Dai Dai Ames misses two point layup
5:48
Lee Dort offensive rebound
5:44
Nolan Dorsey misses three point jump shot
5:42
Malik Thomas defensive rebound
5:31
Malik Thomas misses two point layup
5:29
Semetri Carr defensive rebound
5:17
+3
Justin Pippen makes three point jump shot (Semetri Carr assists)
29-34
4:57
Devin Tillis turnover (Justin Pippen steals)
4:57
Thijs De Ridder personal foul
4:46
Elijah Gertrude personal foul
4:36
Elijah Gertrude personal foul
4:28
Justin Pippen misses two point jump shot
4:26
Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound
4:26
Lee Dort personal foul
4:26
+1
Ugonna Onyenso makes regular free throw 1 of 2
29-35
4:26
+1
Ugonna Onyenso makes regular free throw 2 of 2
29-36
4:07
Ugonna Onyenso blocks Dai Dai Ames's two point jump shot
4:05
Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound
3:58
Ugonna Onyenso misses three point jump shot
3:56
Golden Bears defensive rebound
3:56
TV timeout
3:44
John Camden misses three point jump shot
3:42
Dallin Hall defensive rebound
3:24
Chance Mallory turnover (Dai Dai Ames steals)
3:22
Dallin Hall shooting foul (Dai Dai Ames draws the foul)
3:22
+1
Dai Dai Ames makes regular free throw 1 of 2
30-36
3:22
+1
Dai Dai Ames makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-36
3:05
Chance Mallory misses three point jump shot
3:03
John Camden defensive rebound
2:52
Sam Lewis blocks Justin Pippen's two point jump shot
2:52
Cavaliers defensive rebound
2:32
Sam Lewis misses three point jump shot
2:30
Johann Grunloh offensive rebound
2:30
Milos Ilic personal foul
2:30
+1
Johann Grunloh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-37
2:30
+1
Johann Grunloh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-38
2:06
Johann Grunloh blocks Lee Dort's two point jump shot
2:04
Johann Grunloh defensive rebound
1:49
Thijs De Ridder misses three point jump shot
1:47
John Camden defensive rebound
1:38
+2
John Camden makes two point jump shot (Justin Pippen assists)
33-38
1:21
Malik Thomas turnover
1:10
Lee Dort turnover
1:10
Cavaliers 30 second timeout
0:56
+2
Sam Lewis makes two point layup (Johann Grunloh assists)
33-40
0:40
Dai Dai Ames misses three point jump shot
0:38
Malik Thomas defensive rebound
0:32
Lee Dort blocks Martin Carrere's two point layup
0:30
Semetri Carr defensive rebound
0:30
Thijs De Ridder personal foul
0:30
Semetri Carr misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:30
Sam Lewis defensive rebound
0:03
+3
Malik Thomas makes three point jump shot (Johann Grunloh assists)
33-43
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
CAL
Golden Bears
27
UVA
Cavaliers
41
Time
Team
Play
Score
0:00
—
19:50
Chris Bell misses three point jump shot
19:48
Dallin Hall defensive rebound
19:22
+2
Johann Grunloh makes two point dunk (Thijs De Ridder assists)
33-45
18:59
Sam Lewis personal foul (Chris Bell draws the foul)
18:53
John Camden turnover (Dallin Hall steals)
18:43
+2
Malik Thomas makes two point jump shot (Thijs De Ridder assists)
33-47
18:13
Chris Bell misses two point layup
18:11
Sam Lewis defensive rebound
18:00
Justin Pippen personal foul (Malik Thomas draws the foul)
17:54
Malik Thomas misses three point jump shot
17:52
Dai Dai Ames defensive rebound
17:49
+2
Justin Pippen makes two point dunk (Dai Dai Ames assists)
35-47
17:33
Dai Dai Ames shooting foul (Thijs De Ridder draws the foul)
17:33
Thijs De Ridder misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:33
+1
Thijs De Ridder makes regular free throw 2 of 2
35-48
17:07
Sam Lewis personal foul (DeJuan Campbell draws the foul)
16:49
DeJuan Campbell misses two point jump shot
16:47
Thijs De Ridder defensive rebound
16:37
+2
Johann Grunloh makes two point layup (Thijs De Ridder assists)
35-50
16:20
Thijs De Ridder personal foul
16:00
Malik Thomas blocks DeJuan Campbell's two point jump shot
