Pac-12 roundup: Colorado beats Stanford 59-56 for big win

Josh Scott had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Xavier Johnson scored 14 points and Colorado boosted its chances of a first-round bye in next week’s Pac-12 Conference tournament with a 59-56 victory over host Stanford on Wednesday night.

Xavier Talton added nine points and five rebounds to help the Buffaloes (21-9, 10-7 Pac-12) break a two-game losing skid and hand the Cardinal another setback. Stanford has lost three straight for the first time all season.

Chasson Randle scored 24 points to rally the Cardinal (18-11, 9-8) from an eight-point deficit to take the lead in the final minutes. But he missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

Colorado is now tied for fourth place in the conference with Arizona State. The top four teams earn a first-round bye in next week’s conference tournament in Las Vegas.

Colorado completes its regular-season slate Saturday at Cal. Stanford hosts Utah in its finale.

Utah 63, California 59: Brandon Taylor converted the go-ahead free throws with 1:46 remaining and hit a 3-pointer with 51.2 seconds left, and the Utes (20-9, 9-8) held off the Golden Bears (18-12, 9-8) in Berkeley, Calif., to give coach Larry Krystkowiak his first 20-win season in three years at the school.

Taylor also knocked down two timely 3-pointers and a layup midway through the second half on the way to 13 points, while Delon Wright’s two free throws with 2:11 left tied the game at 50.

Wright added another free throw with 10.1 seconds remaining and Cal star Justin Cobbs missed a 3-pointer before the final buzzer.

Arizona 74, Oregon State 69: Nick Johnson scored 25 points and the third-ranked Wildcats (28-2, 15-2) beat the Beavers (15-14, 7-10) in Corvallis, Ore.

Kaleb Tarczewski added 12 points and nine rebounds for Arizona, which had already clinched the regular season conference title.

Roberto Nelson scored 25 points and Devon Collier had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Oregon State.