LOS ANGELES, March 9 (UPI) -- Jason Gardner scored 25 points and Luke Walton added 20 points, six assists and six steals as 14th-ranked Arizona defeated No. 25 California for the third time this season, 90-78, to advance Friday night to the final of the Pac-10 Tournament against No. 20 Southern Cal which beat No. 9 Oregon, 89-78, in the earlier semifinal.
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. USC and Arizona 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).
Brandon Granville finished with 17 points and 10 assists Friday night as the USC Trojans (22-8) avenged a pair of losses to Oregon.
Oregon (21-9) defeated USC twice this season by rallying in the final minute of both contests. The Ducks led by as many as 11 points in the first half Friday night and were still ahead 68-63 in the second half.
The Trojans then unleashed a devastating 20-3 run that was highlighted by huge slams from Sam Clancy and Jerry DuPree. DuPree added a layup for an 83-71 cushion with 3:43 left.
Frederick Jones scored 20 points despite playing with a touch of the flu to lead Oregon, which won its first regular-season Pac-10 title.
