COLLEGE BASKETBALL PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE : A Close Call for Arizona vs. Stanford

With the game and Arizona’s Pacific 10 Conference title hopes on the line, seniors Matt Othick and Sean Rooks stepped up and took charge Saturday at Tucson.

Othick made consecutive three-pointers, the second of which put Arizona ahead to stay with 1:53 remaining, and Rooks sealed the victory from the free-throw line, giving the fourth-ranked Wildcats an 89-83 victory over Stanford.

Othick and Rooks enabled Arizona to win its final home game of the season after it wasted a 14-point second-half lead when the Cardinal rallied behind Adam Keefe and Brent Williams.

The Wildcats (24-4, 13-3) trail co-leaders UCLA and USC by half a game.

Keefe scored 27 points to lead the Cardinal (16-10, 8-8).

Rooks finished with 21 points. Chris Mills had 20 and Othick 19.

Othick made his fourth three-pointer with 2:53 remaining to put Arizona ahead by 81-78. Stanford’s Peter Dukes, who scored 20 points, matched it by making his sixth three-pointer, tying the score, 81-81, with 2:28 to play.

But Othick made an NBA-range three-pointer to give Arizona the lead for good.

Arizona State 74, California 71--Stevin Smith made two free throws with 19.8 seconds remaining to secure a victory for the Sun Devils at Tempe, Ariz.

Bill Elleby got one last three-point attempt, but his shot bounced off the back of the rim as the game ended with Cal (8-18, 2-14) losing its eighth in a row. Arizona State improved to 18-11 and 9-7.

Oregon State 62, Oregon 54--Charlies McKinney scored 17 points as the Beavers (15-14, 7-9) beat the Ducks at Corvallis, Ore. Antoine Stoudamire scored 28 points for Oregon (6-29, 2-14).