PACIFIC 10 BASKETBALL : Bottom Drops Out for California

Four weeks ago, California talked of winning the rest of its games and advancing to the NCAA tournament.

Since then, the Bears have fallen on hard times, none perhaps harder than Thursday, when Washington freshman Mark Sanford scored 20 points, including the winning layup at the buzzer in overtime of a 74-73 Pacific 10 Conference victory at Berkeley.

It was the eighth loss in the last 10 games for Cal (13-13, 5-12) and probably finished its chances for at least a National Invitation Tournament bid.

Washington (9-17, 5-12) is 3-3 in its last six games.

Stanford 79, Washington State 72--Brevin Knight scored 17 points and the Cardinal (18-8, 9-8) revived its hopes for an NCAA tournament invitation with a victory at Palo Alto.

David Harbour and Tim Young each had 15 for Stanford, which avenged an early-season loss to Washington State (15-11, 9-8) that ended a 10-game Cardinal winning streak.