University of North Carolina Athletics
Derek Dixon
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Lucas: Cal Rapid Reactions
January 17, 2026 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the visit to Cal.
By Adam Lucas
1. Cal continued the pattern of opponents getting hot from the field and built a big enough lead to win an 84-78 decision in Berkeley. The Bears started the game on a 7-0 run and never trailed, making it the program's first wire-to-wire ACC win since joining the conference.
2. There were really two parts of the game: the first 30 minutes, when Carolina didn't play anywhere near hard or well enough to win the game. And then the final 10 minutes, when the Heels went on a furious rally that almost eliminated a 19-point Bear lead with 8:24 remaining.
3. To complete a comeback like that, you have to get some breaks--which the Tar Heels did. They won a challenge and then saw Cal lose a challenge, which the Bears then followed by burning their final timeout with seven minutes to play. That allowed the Heels to build some momentum.
4. But also to complete a comeback like that, you have to complete some little things--like making free throws. The Heels were 17-for-28 from the line (60.7 percent), and during one key stretch over the middle 20 minutes of the game they made just five of 13. They did close by making nine of the final 10 charity tosses, but by then the damage was done.
5. By now you know the numbers. Cal continued all the trends by lighting up the Heels from three-point range, hitting 14 of 26 from three (53.8 percent) in the game and 10-of-16 from three in the first half, when it built a 17-point lead at the break. That was a big enough cushion that even as it tried to fall apart in the second half, the lead was too big to lose.
6. The Tar Heels made a starting lineup change, moving freshman Derek Dixon into the lineup in place of Kyan Evans. It was Dixon's first career start, and he responded by hitting a couple big shots and scoring 14 points to go with his three assists and two turnovers.Â
7. The halftime assistant coach interviews with the THSN continue to be insightful. Saturday it was Marcus Paige, who had just finished watching Cal hit 10-for-16 from three (62.5 percent) and 55.9 percent overall from the field. "We pride ourselves on being a no-paint team," Paige said. "But guys have to understand that you can defend the paint but also have a sense of urgency to get out and defend the three."
8. In the first half, then, the Bears shot better from three (10-for-16) than they did from two (9-for-18). It was the sixth half out of the last seven that the UNC opponent hit better than 50 percent from the field. Cal did not get to the 50 percent mark in the second half (41.7 percent) but the damage was done. Dai Dai Ames surpassed his season average with 19 points, continuing the trend of opposing leading scorers exceeding their average.
9. In the last four games, Carolina opponents are hitting 128-238 from the field (53.4 percent) and an even 50 percent from three. That's over four entire games.
10. The Tar Heels got the deficit to six with 2:30 remaining and had the ball but couldn't convert. They also got it to four with 1:24 left and had the ball, but again couldn't convert. The execution in that sequence, which has to be precise to win a game like that, simply wasn't. Carolina wasn't able to get the ball to the paint to get a shot for Caleb Wilson or Henri Veesaar, who were the two most impactful Heels in the game.
11. Carolina got a boost from Zayden High in the first half at a time it needed it. The reserve big man hit three shots and scored six points at a time the Heels needed the spark. The other offensive standout was Caleb Wilson, who scored a team-high 17 points. But he was limited to just four free throws over the final ten minutes of the game. His last field goal attempt other than a desperation three with three seconds left came with 10:19 remaining.Â
12. You won't see this very often. Four of Carolina's top six in minutes played were positive in the +/- category (Wilson, Dixon, Veesaar and Jaydon Young). But the others were so far into the negative that the Tar Heels couldn't recover.
13. Saturday was Carolina's second visit to Cal. The first came in 1972, when the Tar Heels beat the Bears, 64-61. George Karl had 22 points and seven assists in that game. Carolina also has a win over Cal in the 1998 Pete Newell Challenge, which was played in Oakland.
14. For the second straight game, it was a great turnout of Bay Area Tar Heel fans. Carolina fans were lined up deep and early on Saturday afternoon to get inside Haas Pavilion and were loud during the comeback.
15. Â Carolina will make the trip home tonight and get ready for one of two home games in the month of January. That happens Wednesday against Notre Dame at 7 p.m.Â
1. Cal continued the pattern of opponents getting hot from the field and built a big enough lead to win an 84-78 decision in Berkeley. The Bears started the game on a 7-0 run and never trailed, making it the program's first wire-to-wire ACC win since joining the conference.
2. There were really two parts of the game: the first 30 minutes, when Carolina didn't play anywhere near hard or well enough to win the game. And then the final 10 minutes, when the Heels went on a furious rally that almost eliminated a 19-point Bear lead with 8:24 remaining.
3. To complete a comeback like that, you have to get some breaks--which the Tar Heels did. They won a challenge and then saw Cal lose a challenge, which the Bears then followed by burning their final timeout with seven minutes to play. That allowed the Heels to build some momentum.
4. But also to complete a comeback like that, you have to complete some little things--like making free throws. The Heels were 17-for-28 from the line (60.7 percent), and during one key stretch over the middle 20 minutes of the game they made just five of 13. They did close by making nine of the final 10 charity tosses, but by then the damage was done.
5. By now you know the numbers. Cal continued all the trends by lighting up the Heels from three-point range, hitting 14 of 26 from three (53.8 percent) in the game and 10-of-16 from three in the first half, when it built a 17-point lead at the break. That was a big enough cushion that even as it tried to fall apart in the second half, the lead was too big to lose.
6. The Tar Heels made a starting lineup change, moving freshman Derek Dixon into the lineup in place of Kyan Evans. It was Dixon's first career start, and he responded by hitting a couple big shots and scoring 14 points to go with his three assists and two turnovers.Â
7. The halftime assistant coach interviews with the THSN continue to be insightful. Saturday it was Marcus Paige, who had just finished watching Cal hit 10-for-16 from three (62.5 percent) and 55.9 percent overall from the field. "We pride ourselves on being a no-paint team," Paige said. "But guys have to understand that you can defend the paint but also have a sense of urgency to get out and defend the three."
8. In the first half, then, the Bears shot better from three (10-for-16) than they did from two (9-for-18). It was the sixth half out of the last seven that the UNC opponent hit better than 50 percent from the field. Cal did not get to the 50 percent mark in the second half (41.7 percent) but the damage was done. Dai Dai Ames surpassed his season average with 19 points, continuing the trend of opposing leading scorers exceeding their average.
9. In the last four games, Carolina opponents are hitting 128-238 from the field (53.4 percent) and an even 50 percent from three. That's over four entire games.
10. The Tar Heels got the deficit to six with 2:30 remaining and had the ball but couldn't convert. They also got it to four with 1:24 left and had the ball, but again couldn't convert. The execution in that sequence, which has to be precise to win a game like that, simply wasn't. Carolina wasn't able to get the ball to the paint to get a shot for Caleb Wilson or Henri Veesaar, who were the two most impactful Heels in the game.
11. Carolina got a boost from Zayden High in the first half at a time it needed it. The reserve big man hit three shots and scored six points at a time the Heels needed the spark. The other offensive standout was Caleb Wilson, who scored a team-high 17 points. But he was limited to just four free throws over the final ten minutes of the game. His last field goal attempt other than a desperation three with three seconds left came with 10:19 remaining.Â
12. You won't see this very often. Four of Carolina's top six in minutes played were positive in the +/- category (Wilson, Dixon, Veesaar and Jaydon Young). But the others were so far into the negative that the Tar Heels couldn't recover.
13. Saturday was Carolina's second visit to Cal. The first came in 1972, when the Tar Heels beat the Bears, 64-61. George Karl had 22 points and seven assists in that game. Carolina also has a win over Cal in the 1998 Pete Newell Challenge, which was played in Oakland.
14. For the second straight game, it was a great turnout of Bay Area Tar Heel fans. Carolina fans were lined up deep and early on Saturday afternoon to get inside Haas Pavilion and were loud during the comeback.
15. Â Carolina will make the trip home tonight and get ready for one of two home games in the month of January. That happens Wednesday against Notre Dame at 7 p.m.Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballUNC Wrestling: #12 Carolina Controls Virginia, 25-10
Saturday, January 17
WBB: Post-Miami Press Conference - Jan. 15, 2026
Friday, January 16
UNC Women's Basketball: Kelly's Career High Sends Heels Over Miami, 73-62
Friday, January 16
Checking In with Hubert Davis - January 13, 2026
Tuesday, January 13