Jerome Randle

Jerome Randle scored 24 points and took over the game in the second half to help California move a step closer to clinching its first conference title in 50 years with a 95-71 victory over Arizona on Thursday night. Jamal Boykin added 20 points and 10 rebounds, Theo Robertson scored 18, and Patrick Christopher had 14 for the Golden Bears (19-9, 11-5 Pac-10). Cal can clinch at least a share of its first Pac-10 title since 1960 by beating Arizona State on Saturday in its final home game of the regular season.

Opposing student sections serenade Isaiah Thomas with the same chant whenever he lights up the scoreboard. "It's a small world after all. " The reference to the popular Disney ride and the song that sticks in your brain like melted sugar has become an anthem for burrowing beneath the skin of college basketball's six-foot-and-under stars. FOR THE RECORD: College basketball: In the March 9 Sports section, an article about guards playing basketball in the Pacific 10 Conference said former Oregon player Aaron Brooks is now with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. Brooks plays for the Phoenix Suns.

UCLA tonight AT CALIFORNIA When: 7:30. Where: Haas Pavilion, Berkeley. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 570. Records: UCLA 6-8 overall, 1-1 in Pac-10; California 9-4, 1-0. Record vs. opponent: 131-94. Update: UCLA Coach Ben Howland sees a slew of matchup problems in this game. Cal features a veteran starting five led by guards Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher and should be tough on rebounds. -- David Wharton

USC tonight VS. CALIFORNIA When: 8. Where: Galen Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 710. Records: USC 11-8, 3-3 in the Pac-10; California 9-9, 2-4. Update: The Golden Bears had to replace four of their five starters, including Pac-10 player of the year Jerome Randle, from a team that won the regular-season conference title last season. What's worse, California freshman shooting guard Gary Franklin Jr., a onetime USC commit, recently announced he was transferring.

Opposing student sections serenade Isaiah Thomas with the same chant whenever he lights up the scoreboard. "It's a small world after all. " The reference to the popular Disney ride and the song that sticks in your brain like melted sugar has become an anthem for burrowing beneath the skin of college basketball's six-foot-and-under stars. FOR THE RECORD: College basketball: In the March 9 Sports section, an article about guards playing basketball in the Pacific 10 Conference said former Oregon player Aaron Brooks is now with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. Brooks plays for the Phoenix Suns.

After facing what UCLA Coach Ben Howland described as a "barrage" of jump shots against Stanford two days ago, his team figures to see more of the same against California tonight in Berkeley. The Golden Bears feature two players -- Theo Robertson and Jerome Randle -- who rank among the best three-point shooters in the Pacific 10 Conference. Howland noted that Randle, in particular, has 27-foot range. "He makes some bombs," the coach said.

USC and California gave the season-high crowd of 7,412 at the Galen Center a show Thursday, with the Trojans beating the Golden Bears, 66-63, in a nail-biter highlighted by a 25-0 USC run and dominated by one player: Jerome Randle. The California guard scored a game-high 29 points, but missed a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer as a hushed crowd watched on. "If he had made that, we would have been on 'SportsCenter,' " USC Coach Kevin O'Neill said after the game, laughing.

Jerome Randle scored 21 of his 33 points in the first half, Jamal Boykin added 20 points and 11 rebounds and California (16-8, 8-4) kept hold of its top spot in the Pacific 10 Conference with a 93-81 victory over Washington on Thursday night at Berkeley. Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points for the Huskies (16-8, 6-6), who are 0-7 on the road. Arizona State 56, Oregon State 46 -- Derek Glasser scored 16 points at Tempe, Ariz., as the Sun Devils (17-8, 7-5) rebounded from a 23-point loss at Washington to defeat the Beavers (10-13, 4-7)

Jerome Randle scored 24 points and took over the game in the second half to help California move a step closer to clinching its first conference title in 50 years with a 95-71 victory over Arizona on Thursday night. Jamal Boykin added 20 points and 10 rebounds, Theo Robertson scored 18, and Patrick Christopher had 14 for the Golden Bears (19-9, 11-5 Pac-10). Cal can clinch at least a share of its first Pac-10 title since 1960 by beating Arizona State on Saturday in its final home game of the regular season.

Jerome Randle scored 21 of his 33 points in the first half, Jamal Boykin added 20 points and 11 rebounds and California (16-8, 8-4) kept hold of its top spot in the Pacific 10 Conference with a 93-81 victory over Washington on Thursday night at Berkeley. Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points for the Huskies (16-8, 6-6), who are 0-7 on the road. Arizona State 56, Oregon State 46 -- Derek Glasser scored 16 points at Tempe, Ariz., as the Sun Devils (17-8, 7-5) rebounded from a 23-point loss at Washington to defeat the Beavers (10-13, 4-7)

The numbers matter to Patrick Christopher. As the "other" half of the most talented backcourt in the Pacific 10 Conference, the California guard still keeps track of his statistics. But on a team that takes its lead from high-flying point guard Jerome Randle -- and gets additional offense from the frontcourt -- Christopher has learned to look beyond the points column. "We have a bunch of guys who can score," said Christopher, a senior. "Any given night, anybody can get going, so I try to work on the little things."

USC and California gave the season-high crowd of 7,412 at the Galen Center a show Thursday, with the Trojans beating the Golden Bears, 66-63, in a nail-biter highlighted by a 25-0 USC run and dominated by one player: Jerome Randle. The California guard scored a game-high 29 points, but missed a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer as a hushed crowd watched on. "If he had made that, we would have been on 'SportsCenter,' " USC Coach Kevin O'Neill said after the game, laughing.