Short-Handed Cal Beats Washington, 67-56

Ed Gray, forced to start because of suspensions of three key California players, scored a season-high 23 points to lead the Bears past Washington, 67-56, in a battle of Pacific 10 teams on the NCAA tournament bubble Thursday night at Berkeley.

Two Cal starters--guard Jelani Gardner and forward Tremaine Fowlkes--and reserve guard Prentice McGruder all served one-game suspension for what Coach Todd Bozeman said was a violation of team rules. Gray, a productive sixth man all season, filled in admirably.

Gray was four for eight from three-point range and three for three from the line, extending his streak of consecutive free throws to 24. Freshman center Todd MacCulloch topped Washington with 19 points, while Cal’s Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 16 points and nine rebounds.

Cal, 15-8 overall and 9-5 in the Pac-10, is 5-0 at the cozy, on-campus Harmon Gym this season, while only 3-3 in home games played at the larger Oakland Coliseum. Washington (14-8, 7-6) is 3-6 on the road.

Cal broke a 41-41 tie and outscored Washington, 18-4, over a decisive eight-minute stretch of the second half. Tony Gonzalez, limited to only two first-half minutes when he picked up two quick fouls, had two key put-back baskets and two free throws during the run, capped by Anwar McQueen’s three-point basket with 7:00 to play that gave Cal a 59-45 lead.

Gray’s jumper with 2:50 to play all but ended any hopes of a Washington comeback, putting Cal up 64-48.

An even struggle through the first 10 minutes turned in Cal’s favor late in the first half.

After a basket by Jason Hartman gave the Huskies a 27-25 lead with 9:55 remaining, Cal held Washington scoreless over the next seven minutes and scored 11 consecutive points, capping a 14-1 run on Gray’s three-point play with 1:24 left in the half for a 39-28 lead.

But after Washington cut the lead to 39-31 at halftime, Mark Sanford scored six points of an 8-0 Huskies run over the first 2:40 of the second half to quickly tie the game, 39-39.

Washington State 68, No. 24 Stanford 59--Mark Hendrickson scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Cougars (14-8, 6-7) over the Cardinal (16-7, 9-5) at Stanford.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the surging Cougars, who also handed Stanford its first home loss in 12 games this season at Maples Pavilion.

Stanford trailed most of the first half, then briefly took a four-point lead on a Dion Cross three-point basket with 17:19 left in the game.

Stanford evened the score, 56-56, with 2:38 to go, but Isaac Fontaine made a three-point shot with 2:02 left and Washington State never trailed again.

David Harbour led Stanford with 18 points.

No. 13 Arizona 81, Oregon 63--Seldom-used freshman Jason Terry scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Wildcats (20-5, 9-4) over the Ducks (13-12, 6-8) at Tucson. It was Arizona’s 11th consecutive victory over Oregon since March 1991.

Arizona’s Corey Williams, who had 10 points in the first half, finished with 17, Ben Davis had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Michael Dickerson scored 14 points to help secure the Wildcats’ ninth consecutive season with 20 wins.

Arizona State 63, Oregon State 58--Ron Riley scored nine of his 26 points in overtime as the Sun Devils (10-12, 5-8) beat the Beavers (3-20, 1-13) at Tempe, Ariz.

Arizona State squandered a 40-23 lead early in the second half and was outscored by Oregon State, 29-12, in the final 16:03.

Riley made a free throw to put Arizona State ahead as overtime began, and Rodger Farrington made a runner to make 55-52. Sonny Benjamin scored and J.D. Vetter added two free throws as Oregon State retook the lead by one.

Riley added two free throws with 1:46 to go, but Markee Brown answered with a 12-foot jumper with 1:12 to go for a 58-57 Oregon State edge.

Riley then took control.