BearTalk

The Pac-10 remains unbeaten . . .

AROUND THE PAC-10

– Washington 82, New Mexico 64: The Huskies (26-9) got 18 points from Quincy Pondexter and 15 each from Isaiah Thomas and Matthew Bryan-Amaning to win their ninth straight game and zoom into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. Dairese Gary scored 25 points for the third-seeded Lobos (30-5), who shot 39 percent from the field and missed 10 free throws.

Sunday

– Cal vs. Duke at Jacksonville, Fla., 2:20 p.m.: Digger Phelps is picking Cal . . . and he correctly tabbed Saint Mary’s to beat Villanova. “Upset city,” Phelps said. “No chance,” countered his fellow ESPN analyst Hubert Davis, a former North Carolina player. “Duke’s going to win and the reason why is Brian Zoubek.”

LOCAL HEROES

Omar Samhan (Danville-San Ramon Valley HS) is becoming one of the surprise stars of the NCAA Tournament after contributing 32 points, seven rebounds and two blocks to Saint Mary’s  75-68 win over Villanova. The Gaels improved to 28-5 and are on to Houston for the regional semifinals. Samhan has 1,833 career points — No. 6 all-time in Bay Area history — and he now has 709 points this season to rank fifth on the Bay Area list.