Feb 28, 2002
By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
TUCSON, Ariz. - Shantay Legans and Amit Tamir each made a late 3-pointer that allowed No. 21 California to pull away from Arizona State for a 91-80 victory Thursday night.
Legans, who had 20 points, five assists and four steals, made his fourth 3-pointer in as many tries with 2:45 to play, opening a 77-70 lead. Tamir, who finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, made his 25 seconds later to make it 80-72.
Joe Shipp also had 18 points for the Bears (21-6, 12-5 Pac-10), who remained in the race for the conference title.
Tommy Smith had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Arizona State (14-12, 7-10), while injured center Chad Prewitt had 17 of his 19 points in the second half.
Prewitt partially tore a ligament in his right elbow during practice on Tuesday.
Cal, who finished 17-1 at home, rallied to win for the fourth time in nine road games.
The Sun Devils led 59-53 after Smith made a layup off an inbounds pass with 9:36 to play.
But they went nearly six minutes without another field goal, and Cal caught up and went ahead with a 17-4 run that lasted 4:23.
Legans made two free throws with 6:16 to play as the Bears regained the lead, 64-63.
After a putback by Ryan Forehan-Kelly, Legans made two free throws after a technical foul was called on Smith, and Cal led 68-63. Shipp banked in a 7-footer at the 5:13 mark, and Arizona State got no closer than four points after that.
There was only one lead change in the first half, but four in a 1:31 span of the second after the Bears made up a five-point halftime deficit.
Arizona State regained the lead at 53-52 with 12:24 remaining on two free throws by Kenny Crandall, starting an 8-1 surge which Smith capped with his layup.
No one but Smith had scored for Arizona State, and Cal had a 14-9 lead before James Braxton made a layup 5:49 into the game.
Crandall, playing for the first time since spraining his right foot on Jan. 31, tied it at 14 with a 3-pointer 24 seconds later, feeding a 17-3 run that gave the Sun Devils a 26-17 lead with 9:26 left in the half.
Legans made three 3-pointers over the next 2:43, getting the Bears within 30-26.