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Arizona 90, California 78

Posted: Saturday March 09, 2002 02:23 AM

California Related Info: Team Page Conference Page City Page: • Berkeley Message Boards: • California • Pac-10

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LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Arizona never allowed California to entertain thoughts of revenge.

Jason Gardner scored 25 points and Luke Walton added 20, six assists and six steals as 14th-ranked Arizona defeated No. 25 California for the third time this season, 90-78, to advance to the final of the Pac-10 Tournament.

The Wildcats, who never trailed, started the game by outscoring the Golden Bears, 19-11. California closed within two points on a three-point play by Brian Weathers with 4:50 left in the first half, but Arizona answered with a layup off a steal by Channing Frye and a pair of baskets by Gardner to take a 41-33 advantage with 2:31 left in the half.

Never seriously threatened in the second half, Arizona (21-9) extended its winning steak in Pac-10 tournament games to 11 and will seek its fourth crown on Saturday against 20th-ranked Southern California. The two schools split their regular-season series.

Weathers shot 10-of-15 from the field and finished with 22 points and seven rebounds and Solomon Hughes scored 25 points for the Bears (22-8).