Mark Lyons scored 18 points, freshman Brandon Ashley added 10 in a reserve role and No. 9 Arizona defeated Utah, 68-64, in Salt Lake City to snap a two-game skid.
The Wildcats (21-4 overall, 9-4 Pacific-12 Conference) led by as many as 13 early in the second half only to see the Utes (11-14, 3-10) respond with a 14-3 run to tie it at 51 with 7:28 remaining on Jason Washburn’s tip-in.
A 3-pointer by Dakarai Tucker pulled Utah within two with 4:46 to go, but a putback by Kevin Parrom and a layup by Lyons helped seal it for the Wildcats, who were coming off their worst loss of the season.
Jarred DuBois had 16 points, Washburn 15 and Jeremy Olsen 12 for the Utes, who have yet to win back-to-back conference games since joining the Pac-12 two years ago.
At California 76, USC 68: Allen Crabbe had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Justin Cobb chipped in 22 points and the Golden Bears (16-9, 8-5) beat the Trojans (12-14, 7-6) after falling 15 points behind in the second half.
Crabbe, the Pac-12’s leading scorer, got into a heated exchange with Cal coach Mike Montgomery early in the second half but regained his composure and rallied the Golden Bears to their third consecutive win. Crabbe scored 10 points over the final 41/2 minutes and helped Cal close the game on a 25-7 run.
J.T. Terrell scored 17 points and Byron Wesley scored 16 for the Trojans.
PAC-12 WOMEN ROUNDUP
No. 4 Stanford 68, at No. 15 UCLA 57: Chiney Ogwumike scored 26 points and the Cardinal (24-2, 13-1) took its 15th consecutive victory over the Bruins (19-6, 10-4).
Ogwumike has averaged 21.3 points against ranked teams this season.
Joslyn Tinkle added 10 points and nine rebounds and Mikaela Ruef had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Stanford.
The Cardinal defense has held opponents under 70 points 44 games in a row.
Atonye Nyingifa led the Bruins with 12 points and five rebounds.
No. 6 California 72, at USC 64: Layshia Clarendon scored 22 points and the Golden Bears (23-2, 13-1) held off a late rally by the Trojans (8-17, 5-9).
After trailing by 13 points in the second half, USC battled back to make it a close game.
Cassie Harberts’ basket with 1:54 to play cut the lead to 63-59 but the Trojans couldn’t get any closer.
Brittany Boyd added 16 points for Cal, which remains tied for first-place in the conference with Stanford.
Harberts led USC with 20 points and Ariya added 15.
No. 21 Colorado 71, at Arizona State 63: Jen Reese scored 22 points and the Buffaloes (20-5, 9-5) won their fifth consecutive game, knocking off the scrappy Sun Devils (11-15, 3-11).
Arielle Roberson scored 16 points and Chucky Jeffery had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Colorado, which has won 20 games for the first time since the 2003-04 team went 22-8.
Reese and Roberson also had eight rebounds to help the Buffaloes to a 50-35 advantage on the boards — with 23 on the offensive glass leading to a 26-11 edge in second-chance points.
At Oregon 65, Washington State 60: Freshman guard Lia Galdeira scored 19 points to lead the Cougars (10-15, 6-8), but it wasn’t enough as the Ducks (4-22, 2-12).
Oregon held the Cougars to 29.5 percent shooting, posted a 55-47 rebounding advantage and knocked down seven 3-point shots.
Washington State freshman forward Mariah Cooks added 11 points and six rebounds.
At Arizona 61, Utah 52: Davellyn Whyte scored 21 points and hauled in nine rebounds as the Wildcats (12-13, 4-10) defeated the Utes (14-11, 5-9) to snap an eight game losing streak.
Michelle Plouffe led the Utes with 21 points and 16 rebounds.
McClatchy news services
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