Pac-12 Tournament 2017: Cal beats Utah, 78-75

March 9, 2017

Jabari Bird had 26 points and scored on a key three-point play with 14 seconds left, helping California hold off Utah, 78-75, on Thursday in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals.  Charlie Moore added 21 points for fifth-seeded Cal, which moves on to play No. 5 and top-seeded Oregon in Friday's semifinals.

Kyle Kuzma had 23 points to lead the fourth-seeded Utes.

Cal (21-11) led by 11 with 2:17 left, but Utah (20-11) charged back, pulling to 73-72 with 29 seconds left. Bird followed with a hard drive and was fouled, but Kuzma hit a three-pointer to make it a one-point game again.

Bird hit two free throws and Utah's Sedrick Barefield missed a wild three-pointer at the buzzer, sending the Bears charging from their bench.

Cal made five of its first nine shots in the second half, building a 44-35 lead in the opening four minutes.

The Bears continued to keep Utah at arm's length, going up 57-47 on Bird's three-pointer from the wing, their 10th made basket in 17 second-half shots.

Utah stormed back in the closing minutes behind Kuzma, who hit a pair of treys in the final 67 seconds.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services

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