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
No comments:
Post a Comment
We encourage all intelligent, passionate comments. Please refrain from any ignorant, racist, or offensive rants.