Pacific 10 Roundup : Ortiz Scores 21, Leads Oregon State Over Cal, 59-57

Jose Ortiz made two free throws to give Oregon State its first lead of the game with 40 seconds to play and the Beavers edged California, 59-57, in Pacific 10 game Saturday at Corvallis, Ore.

The victory kept Oregon State atop the Pac-10 standings. The Beavers improved to 15-4 overall and 8-3 in the conference, one-half game ahead of Arizona.

California dropped to 6-5 and 13-10.

Ortiz scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Kevin Johnson led the Bears with 19 points and 8 assists.

Ortiz’s free throws put the Beavers in front, 56-55. On the ensuing play, the Bears could not in-bounds the ball in five seconds and the Beavers took over.

California quickly fouled Gary Payton with 38 seconds to play, but the freshman guard hit both ends of a one-and-one situation for a 58-55 Oregon State lead.

Johnson missed on a long shot, and the Beavers regained control. Earl Martin added a free throw to boost Oregon State’s margin 59-55.

Johnson went the distance for a layup with six seconds to play but the Bears never got another chance to score.

Arizona 66, Arizona State 54--Sophomore forward Sean Elliott scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half as the Wildcats won at Tuscon, beating the Sun Devils for the seventh time in eight games.

Arizona, the defending conference champions, is 12-7 overall and 7-3 in Pac-10 play. Arizona State is 6-12 and 2-8.