California Golden Bears Face No. 19 UCLA Bruins in Classic Finale

San Francisco, CA — The California Golden Bears (5-1) will meet their in-state rivals, the No. 19 UCLA Bruins (5-1), on Tuesday evening as part of the Empire Classic finale. This matchup marks Cal’s first significant test of the 2025 men’s college basketball season, as UCLA is the first ranked opponent that the Golden Bears will face.

Both teams enter the game undefeated in the pre-season tournament, having secured wins against the Presbyterian Blue Hose and Sacramento State Hornets. The Golden Bears recently celebrated a decisive 91-67 victory over Sacramento State at Haas Pavilion, with Chris Bell leading the scoring effort with 21 points.

The game will tip off at 7 p.m. at the Chase Center in San Francisco and will be broadcast live on ESPN. Fans can also follow live commentary provided by Ben Braun and Chris Sylvester. For local radio coverage, Justin Allegri and Theo Robertson will be broadcasting on the Cal Bears Sports Network via 810 AM.

This matchup holds significance for California as they are striving for early momentum in their season, hoping to build on their recent successes while challenging their ranked rivals.