BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - Allen Crabbe converted three free throws with 8.4 seconds left as California earned a hard-fought 53-49 victory over Southern California on Thursday night in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.
Crabbe controlled the ball on the perimeter after USC 7-footer Dewayne Dedmon blocked Jorge Gutierrez's layup attempt. Crabbe was fouled by Eric Strangis on the left side of the 3-point arc as he heaved the ball up with the shot clock expiring.
Gutierrez had 13 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and four steals and Harper Kamp and Crabbe added 12 points apiece for Cal (11-3, 1-0), which remained unbeaten at Haas Pavilion.
Maurice Jones scored 17 points and knocked down three late 3-pointers to keep the Trojans (5-9, 0-1) close in the waning minutes.
