Cal, Gray Take Turn for Better

Seconds after missing an opportunity to put the game away, guard Ed Gray had a steal and made two free throws to preserve California’s 71-67 victory over Washington State at Berkeley on Saturday.

Gray, who finished with 16 points, had a chance to clinch the victory for Cal with 13 seconds left but missed two free throws.

Washington State brought the ball upcourt and as guard Isaac Fontaine drove the lane, Gray stripped the the ball way. Gray was fouled with five seconds left and this time he made his free throws to allow Cal, 16-8 overall and 10-5 in the Pacific 10, to remain in contention for an NCAA tournament berth.

Freshman forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 25 points and 11 rebounds, the 10th time he has reached double figures in those categories in a game. Forward Jelani Gardner, one of three Cal players returning from a one-game suspension for violating team rules, had 13 points in a reserve role, four in the final 1:08.

Guard Shamon Antrum and forward Tavares Mack both had 17 points for Washington State (14-9, 6-8), which had won its previous five games.

No. 13 Arizona 84, Oregon State 60--The Wildcats (21-5, 10-4) posted their 13th victory in a row over the Beavers (3-21, 1-13 and a school-record 13-game losing streak) at Tucson, Ariz. Forward Michael Dickerson led Arizona with 16 points.

No. 24 Stanford 71, Washington 56--Forward Andy Poppink had 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Cardinal (17-7, 10-5) at Palo Alto. Washington (14-9, 7-7), which lost for the fifth time in six games, got 14 points and seven rebounds from freshman center Todd MacCulloch.

Oregon 81, Arizona State 70--Guard Jamal Curry had 23 points and was one of four double-figure scorers for the Ducks (14-12, 7-8) at Tempe, Ariz. Guard Jeremy Veal had 29 points for Arizona State (10-13, 5-9).