Roundup: Mountain schools own the weekend to start Pac-12 play

Forget the Dallas Cowboys; How ‘bout dem Buffs? Colorado swept the LA schools sans Josh Scott, and Brian Howell provides a recap of Colorado’s latest victory, an 86-65 triumph over USC. Sophomore Dustin Thomas scored a career-high 17 points for Roll Tad.

The Runnin’ Utes looked like world-beaters at home this weekend in sweeping the LA schools, and Kyle Goon of the Salt Lake Tribune recaps Utah’s 71-39 win over UCLA from Sunday afternoon. The Utes are 2-0 in league for the first time in their Pac-12 history.

The Bruins ended the football season on the right note with a 40-35 victory over Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl, and Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times reflects on the UCLA football season and the bowl victory.

The Dawgs lost in the Cactus Bowl 30-22 to Oklahoma State, making the Pac-12 6-2 in bowl games (best among all power conferences, mind you), but hey, at least John Ross returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.

Gotta love this – the city of Oregon, Ohio, will not change its name after a report that the town would do so on Jan. 12 because of the Oregon-Ohio State College Football Playoff National Championship. Also, Alex Espinoza of Pac-12.com reflects on the first-ever college basketball national championship game that was played between Oregon and Ohio State in 1939. The Wandering Webfoots (Ducks) won 46-33 in Evanston, Ill., the home of Northwestern University.

USC wide receiver Nelson Agholor will enter the NFL draft, the school announced Saturday. He had one year of eligibility remaining.

Hope you tuned into Stanford men’s basketball’s 68-60 overtime victory against Washington Sunday night. Those are the highlights if you didn’t. Chasson Randle and Robert Upshaw are very good at the game of basketball. #understatement

The folks at CougCenter are mighty happy after Washington State men’s basketball won at Cal 69-66 Sunday afternoon. Anytime you can get a road split in conference play, you’re doing something right. Well played, Cougs.

Arizona got some revenge for Valentine’s Day last year, demolishing Arizona State 73-49. Bruce Pascoe writes that Arizona’s new look stymied the Sun Devils. Usual super-sub Rondae Hollis-Jefferson started Sunday’s game and scored 13 points alongside Brandon Ashley and Stanley Johnson.

Oregon State men’s hoops dropped the Civil War contest to Oregon 71-59 Saturday night, and Connor Letourneau writes that Oregon State went away from what it had been doing well all season.

Lindsay Gottlieb’s Group got off to a good start in conference play by beating Utah 67-49 Saturday, and Mike Vernon writes that unlikely leaders led Cal women’s basketball to a win over Utah. Mercedes Jefflo led the way with 17 points and freshman Penina Davidson chipped in 15. The Bears take on Colorado Monday night.

Jeff Metcalfe commemorates the life of former Arizona State football player Bryan Caldwell, who passed away Saturday at the age of 54.