The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
55°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

California knocks off No. 25 USC, thanks to Rabb

Southern California forward Nick Rakocevic, right, fouls California guard Don Coleman as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Gus Ruelas / Associated Press)
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Ivan Rabb scored 17 points, including the go-ahead free throws with five seconds left, and had a key block at the buzzer to lift California to a 74-73 victory over No. 25 Southern California on Sunday night.

With his team up one, Rabb blocked Jordan McLaughlin’s driving layup at the buzzer to lift the Bears to their first road victory over a ranked opponent in three years.

Charlie Moore added 16 points and Jibari Bird and Don Coleman each had 12 for Cal.

McLaughlin and Chimezi Metu each scored 20 points to lead Southern California, which lost at home for the first time this season.

Down 72-71, McLaughlin scored to give USC a 73-72 lead with 17 seconds left.

After a Cal timeout, Bird fed Rabb at the right low block, where he spun into the lane only to be fouled on his shot attempt by Metu.

The entire game was tight, including the final few minutes. Neither team could gain more than a three-point advantage during most of the second half.

Cal’s last win over a ranked opponent was an 83-63 home victory over No. 11 Oregon on Feb. 11.

California: The Bears faced their fourth ranked opponent in their last five games (No. 12 Virginia, No. 18 Arizona, No. 4 UCLA, and No. 25 USC), having lost the first three games. The victory was Cal’s first road win over a Top 25 opponent since Nov. 20, 2014 (73-59 vs. No. 23 Syracuse at Madison Square Garden).

Southern California: The loss was the Trojans’ first loss in 10 games at the Galen Center this season. At halftime, two dozen members of the USC football accompanied the Rose Bowl trophy won on Jan. 2 with a 52-49 victory over Penn State.

(4) UCLA 89, Stanford 75: Lonzo Ball scored 21 points and the Bruins led all the way in defeating the visiting Cardinal.

Bryce Alford added 17 points and TJ Leaf had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Bruins, who improved to 10-0 at Pauley Pavilion this season. They hit 11 3-pointers, led by Ball and Alford with four apiece.

Michael Humphrey had a career-high 27 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out in the last two minutes for Stanford in his first double-double of the season.

The Bruins dominated the first half, shooting 53 percent on their way to a 48-30 lead at the break. They made eight 3-pointers in the half, with Ball hitting two in a row and Leaf following with another 1 1/2 minutes into the game.

Stanford shot better in the second half when it outscored UCLA 45-41. The Cardinal cut its deficit from 20 points down to 61-50 on a pair of free throws by Cameron Walker. Not long after, the Bruins pushed their lead back to 19 points on two free throws by Ball that capped a 7-0 run.