Stanford holds off Utah 61-60 in regular-season finale to boost positioning for Pac-12 tourney

Utah forward Jeremy Olsen (41) tries to go to the basket between Stanford forwards Dwight Powell, left, and Josh Huestis, right, during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

Stanford forward Dwight Powell, right, goes to the basket against Utah center Dallin Bachynski, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

Dwight Powell made a go-ahead free throw with 36.1 seconds remaining after Stanford missed seven consecutive from the line late, and the Cardinal held on to beat Utah 61-60 on Saturday in the Pac-12 regular-season finale for both schools.

Chasson Randle delivered down the stretch on the way to 22 points and forced a turnover with 1.8 seconds left as Utah couldn't get a shot off in the waning seconds with a chance to win.

Stefan Nastic added 14 points for the Cardinal (19-11, 10-8 Pac-12), who along with Utah (20-10, 9-9) began the day in a four-way tie for fifth place in the Pac-12 standings. The seeding for next week's conference tournament in Las Vegas still had to be worked out based on Saturday's results, but with the win Stanford will be seeded no worse than sixth and could be as high as fourth.