Dai Dai Ames poured in a game-high 23 points and Cal kept Wright State at arm’s length most of the way en route to a 77-67 nonconference men’s basketball victory on Thursday in Berkeley, Calif.

John Camden, the leading scorer in Cal’s opening win over Cal State Bakersfield with 22 points, finished with 12 points and a game-high-tying nine rebounds.

Ames, a transfer who had played a season apiece at Kansas State and Virginia, recorded the second-highest point total of his college career. His total was boosted by sinking three 3-pointers in five attempts, including a clutch one with 2:22 remaining after the Raiders had rallied within 69-65.

Ames shot 8-for-13 overall, helping the Golden Bears outshoot the visitors 41.8% to 37.5%.

Justin Pippen hit four free throws in the final 1:38, sandwiching one by Lee Dort, to help Cal (2-0) hold on a night when the hosts outscored Wright State 26-10 at the foul line.

Pippen tied Camden for game-high rebounding honors with nine to go along with 14 points, a team-high four assists and two steals. Chris Bell added 12 points to Cal’s cause.

The Golden Bears’ biggest lead came at 60-44 on an Ames 3-pointer with 8:53 remaining, but Michael Cooper nailed a 3-pointer 24 seconds later to ignite a Raiders rally that eventually saw the visitors get within four.

Cooper paced Wright State (1-1) with 17 points, a majority of which coming on 3-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Taking 13 more attempts, the Raiders outscored the Golden Bears 27-15 on 3-pointers.

Cooper also found time for a team-high four assists, while Logan Woods was the Raiders’ leading rebounder with seven to go with seven points.

Dominic Pangonis had 11 points off the bench and Michael Imariagbe added 10 for Wright State, which opened its season earlier in the week with a home win over Division III Franklin College of Indiana.

–Field Level Media