LAS VEGAS -- Ivan Raab scored two big baskets late to finish with 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, helping No. 25 California outlast Oregon State 76-68 Thursday night in the Pac-12 quarterfinals.
Raab gave the Beavers trouble all night, particularly the biggest moments. He scored on a putback to put Cal (23-9) up four and finished off a three-point play with 1:22 left to make it 70-63.
Jabari Bird added 20 points for the Bears, who will face No. 12 Utah in the semifinals Friday night.
Oregon State (19-12) managed to keep it close despite playing without its second-leading scorer Tres Tinkle, who suffered a right foot injury during practice last week.
One reason was Derrick Bruce. The shifty freshman guard, who had never scored more than 11 points, had 25 against the Bears.
Gary Payton had 20 points and 16 rebounds for Oregon State, which still should be in good shape to end its 26-year NCAA Tournament drought.
The Beavers boosted their NCAA Tournament chances in the opening round by holding off Arizona State 75-66.
Oregon State managed to beat Cal in the teams' first meeting this season, 77-71 in Corvalis, but lost 83-71 in Berkeley in the second meeting.
Bird caused the Beavers problems in the second meeting, scoring 23 points, and was trouble for them again, scoring 11 in the first half. Jordan Mathews also had 11, helping the Bears to a 34-30 halftime lead.
Bruce did most of the work for Oregon State, scoring 15 points in the first half.
Cal stretched the lead to 10 early in the second half, only to get sloppy and allow the Beavers to rally and keep it close.
The Beavers took the lead with about 7 minutes left after Bruce found Payton in the corner for a 3-pointer, setting up a back and forth finish.
Raab had the biggest baskets to put Cal ahead and Mathews added a 3-pointer from the corner.
TIP INS
Oregon State: Bruce was 7 for 11 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. ... The Beavers made 9 of 16 from the arc.
Cal: Jaylen Brown, the Pac-12's freshman of the year, had eight points on 1-of-6 shooting. ... Mathews finished with 17 points.
WHAT'S NEXT
Oregon State must wait out Selection Sunday to see if it will get an NCAA invite.
Cal will face No. 12 Utah in Friday night's semifinals.
