Cal beats UW late shot by Singer
Sam Singer hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with five seconds left to lift California to a 90-88 win over Washington in Seattle on Sunday.
Singer’s shot came after Nigel Williams-Goss gave Washington (14-7, 3-6 Pac-12) an 88-87 lead, its first since early in the first half, with a short jumper at 19.5 seconds.
California, led by Jordan Mathews’ 23 points and Tyrone Wallace’s 21, had fended off the Huskies for most of the second half. Washington tied the game on four occasions before Williams-Goss’ jumper.
The Huskies closed to within 87-86 with 1:18 left and forced Mathews to miss an off-balance jumper, but Mike Anderson immediately turned the ball over. Wallace was fouled on the ensuing inbounds, but missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving Williams-Goss, who had a game-high 31 points, the chance to put the Huskies in front.
But Singer caught the ball at the top of the key, gave a jab step to back off defender Andrew Andrews, and nailed the game-winner. Williams-Goss was well off the mark with a long jumper at the buzzer.
With a noon start and the hometown Seahawks playing in the Super Bowl, a sparse crowd was on hand at Alaska Airlines Arena. Even with Washington offering free admission to students wearing Seahawks gear, the student section was barely half full.
California (13-9, 3-6) appeared to have gained control of the game with a 40-27 lead with just less than three minutes left in the first half.
The Huskies ended the first half on a 14-3 run, though, capped by a corner 3-pointer from Williams-Goss as time expired.
The run was keyed by consecutive 3-pointers from Darin Johnson, who had been reluctant to shoot from the outside.
The Bears responded by having Johnson’s defender sag to the middle, congesting the lane.
(11) Utah 67, USC 39: Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and nine rebounds, and the Utes (17-4, 7-2 Pac-12) crushed the Trojans (9-12, 1-8) in Los Angeles.
Delon Wright added 11 points and five rebounds and Jordan Loveridge scored 10 points for the Utes.
Malik Martin scored 11 points to lead the Trojans.