No. 1 Arizona Closes In on Title

Salim Stoudamire made six three-point baskets and scored 20 points at Berkeley as No. 1-ranked Arizona took control of the Pacific 10 Conference race on Thursday night with an 88-75 victory over No. 23 California.

The Wildcats (22-2, 14-1 Pac-10) can clinch the regular-season conference title Saturday with a victory at Stanford. California (19-6, 12-4) was eliminated from contention.

It was the seventh consecutive victory for the Wildcats, who ended the Golden Bears’ 17-game home winning streak. Arizona has won nine in a row over California. Arizona’s Luke Walton also scored 20 points, making all three of his three-point attempts.

Arizona made nine of its first 11 shots, including four three-point baskets by Stoudamire. California cut the lead to three points midway through the second half, but Stoudamire scored five consecutive points during a 13-4 run that secured the victory.

Brian Wethers scored 18 points for California.

No. 10 Marquette 78, No. 11 Louisville 73 -- Dwyane Wade scored 28 points and Scott Merritt added 18 at Louisville, Ky., as the Golden Eagles (21-4, 12-2 Conference USA) rallied from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Cardinals (19-5, 9-4 Conference USA), who lost for the fourth time in five games.

No. 19 Stanford 88, Arizona State 77 -- Julius Barnes scored 29 points at Palo Alto as the Cardinal increased its season-best winning streak to six games.

Stanford (22-6, 13-3 Pac-10) won for the 10th time in 11 games and 13th in 15. It has won nine in a row at home and 11 in a row against Arizona State (17-9, 9-6).

OTHER GAMES

Blake Stepp scored 16 points to help lift Gonzaga (21-7, 11-2 West Coast Conference) to a 71-66 victory at Santa Clara (13-13, 4-9).... Jason Blair scored 24 points and Jason Keep had 23 to lead host San Diego (16-10, 10-3 WCC) to a 92-69 victory over Portland (10-16, 3-10).... Brandon Miller scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half at Indianapolis as Butler (23-4, 13-2 Horizon League) cruised to a 58-37 victory over Wisconsin Green Bay (9-18, 4-11).... John Allen made a jump shot in the lane with two seconds to play at East Rutherford, N.J., to give Seton Hall (15-9, 9-4 Big East) a 57-56 victory over Villanova (15-11, 8-5). The Pirates have won eight in a row.