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Cal beats Utah in double overtime on a last-second alley-oop

Jabari Bird

California’s Jabari Bird celebrates a score against Oregon in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

AP

Charlie Moore found Jabari Bird for a last second alley-oop as Cal defeated Utah, 77-75, in double overtime in a conference game that had serious bubble implications.

The Golden Bears and the Utes entered this contest with identical 15-6 (6-3 Pac-12) records. USC is the best win for each program, serving as the only win they have over an RPI top-50 team. The long and short of it is Cal and Utah have little room for error moving forward. So in the case of Cal, Thursday night’s win will come in handy on Selection Sunday. The Bears, who were listed as one of the “Last Four Teams In” in CBT’s latest bracket projection, have eight remaining games, half of which come against teams outside of the RPI 100. But they do have several chances -- at Arizona and at home against Oregon -- to solidify their resume.

For the Utes, which has lost by single digits to Butler, Xavier, UCLA and Oregon, Thursday’s outcome will likely keep them on the wrong side of the bubble.

Aside from the game-winning slam, Jabari Bird scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the second overtime. Charlie Moore ended with 17 points and seven assists. Kyle Kuzma registered a double-double of 23 points and 14 boards in a losing effort.