LOS ANGELES — In a thrilling encounter, Andrej Stojakovic led the charge for California with 20 points, while Jovan Blacksher Jr. contributed 19 points, aiding the Golden Bears in their 71-66 victory over Southern California on Sunday night. This contest marked the first meeting between the two teams as nonconference rivals since the Pac-12’s dissolution, dating back to 1921.

California, now competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, improved their record to 3-1, securing back-to-back wins against USC after suffering ten straight defeats at their hands. The Golden Bears now hold a narrow edge in their historical series, leading 138-134.

The game saw a tight finish, with Desmond Claude hitting a jumper, followed by Saint Thomas scoring two consecutive baskets, which helped USC (3-1) briefly grasp a 64-63 lead with just over six minutes left. However, the Trojans struggled offensively, converting only one of ten attempts in the final stretch, as California capitalized by scoring eight of the last ten points.

BJ Omot’s 3-pointer at the 4:54 mark and a subsequent lane score by Joshua Ola-Joseph provided the Bears with a four-point cushion as they approached the final moments of the game. Ola-Joseph’s critical offensive rebound set the stage for Stojakovic to sink two free throws with 21 seconds remaining, and he later made a vital block on a Claude shot attempt.

Blacksher sealed the game by making one of his two free throws just before the final buzzer. Ola-Joseph’s contribution included six points, seven rebounds, and a steal, all recorded within the closing 12 minutes of play. For USC, Claude, a 6-foot-6 transfer from Xavier, managed to score 13 of his total 20 points in the first half, while Thomas finished with 15 points. Wesley Yates III added ten points, all before halftime.

This victory marked California’s first nonconference road win since December 19, 2017, when they triumphed over Seattle 81-59. The first half of the match was notably competitive, showcasing nine ties and ten lead changes. Blacksher’s timely 3-pointer just before halftime narrowed Cal’s lead to a single point, concluding the first half at 43-42 in favor of the Golden Bears. This impressive performance included Blacksher making four of five 3-point attempts and scoring 18 points in the first half on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting.

DJ Campbell’s jumper and Stojakovic’s consecutive points sparked an 11-2 run for California early in the second half, which allowed the team to establish a six-point lead with 15:37 left to play.