TUSCON, Ariz.-When the Cal men's basketball team was swept by Arizona and Arizona State at home nearly a month ago, coach Ben Braun said the squad needed to find a way to win close games. Last week, Braun said the Bears needed to get some stops on defense.

Last night at the McKale Center, Cal failed on both fronts.

The Bears failed again to thwart dribble penetration and failed to get a single stop over the Wildcats' final 15 possessions in an 83-73 loss that effectively turns Saturday's game against the Sun Devils into a must-win.

Cal (14-9, 5-7 in the Pac-10) gave up 80 points for the third game in a row-the first time that has happened this year-and must win four of its final six games to avoid a losing record in Pac-10 play.

"Saturday is definitely big," guard Jerome Randle said. "If we come out (of the road trip) 0-2, I'm pretty sure we'll be in a hole."

Said Ryan Anderson: "We're kind of on our toes right now. We have to make another run."

Arizona made a run when it counted last night.

Led by freshman Jerryd Bayless, the Wildcats scored every time they had the ball in the final nine minutes of a previously close contest, more than negating the Bears' late scoring flurry led by Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher.

Anderson scored on a put-back with 4:10 left to cut the lead to 68-62, but the Bears were unable to contain dribble-penetration the rest of the contest.

"We weren't defending guys today," said Randle, who finished with 17 points. "We were just trading baskets. You're not going to win like that. You have to get stops."

Bayless finished with 33 points on 9-for-18 shooting and proved nearly impossible to stop in the second half. He hit a three with 8:44 left to stretch Arizona's lead back up to six and nailed another one with 6:34 left to put the Wildcats on top 62-54. Cal never got within six the rest of the way.

"Bayless is as tough a guy to contain as there is in the league," Braun said. "He probably has as good a pull-up jumper as I've seen."

Just five days after giving up 28 points to Oregon's Bryce Taylor in an ugly 92-70 loss, the Bears again struggled with help-side defense and closing out.

Jordan Hill was usually the beneficiary, especially when Cal did manage to force Arizona guards to put it on the floor. He scored 21 points on mostly dunks and lay-ups, catching feeds mainly from Bayless and Jawann McClellan.

The Wildcats (16-8, 6-5) shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the second half en route to 52 points one game after the Ducks torched the Bears for 58 points on 80.0 percent shooting Saturday evening at Haas Pavilion.

"Helping out on (Bayless) and getting back on Hill was a big challenge," forward DeVon Hardin said. "We just gotta find some ways to get stops. We're just taking baby steps. Now we need to take some giant steps (on defense)."

Offense was not the issue yet again last night, especially in the second half. Anderson finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds and Christopher responded from an 0-for-7 shooting night against Oregon to lead all scorers with 21 points. Cal shot 51.7 percent from the field in the second half to almost keep pace with Arizona.

But Anderson and Christopher were unable to capitalize on contested lay-ups near the basket. Braun said the Bears missed 15 shots around the rim and did not take advantage of their 17 offensive rebounds.

"If we come up with those baskets or get fouled, it's a different story," Braun said. "We just let opportunities slip away."

Tags: RYAN ANDERSON, JERRYD BAYLESS