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Oregon State Knocks USC Into a Share of Title, 60-58

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From United Press International

Freshman Eric Knox sank six free throws in the final minute of overtime at the Sports Arena Saturday to lift Oregon State to a 60-58 victory over USC, forcing the Trojans to settle for a tie for the Pacific 10 basketball championship.

Both USC and Washington finished with 13-5 conference records, but the Huskies, who beat Stanford Saturday, get the automatic berth in the NCAA tournament based on a better overall record (22-9 to USC’s 19-9).

The Trojans, along with Oregon State (22-8, 12-6) must await a decision by the NCAA selection committee today concerning a possible playoff berth.

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USC clinched at least a tie for the conference championship for the first time since 1961 with a victory over Oregon Thursday night.

The Trojans had a chance to win Saturday’s game in regulation when Larry Friend--who beat Oregon State with a last-second shot in the teams’ first meeting this season--drove the lane and was fouled with five seconds remaining and the score tied at 50-50.

But Friend, a 71% free throw shooter this season, missed both free throws, and the game went into overtime.

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In overtime, Knox kept driving the lane, where the Trojans continuously fouled him. His two free throws with 10 seconds remaining clinched the victory. USC, meanwhile, missed the front end of 1-and-1 free throw situations twice in the extra period.

Wayne Carlander had given USC a 50-47 lead with 1:11 left in regulation with a pair of free throws. A.C. Green cut it to 50-48 with a free throw 11 seconds later, and when he missed his second free throw, Oregon State got the rebound.

Green tied the score at 50-50 when he was fouled again and sank both shots with 55 seconds left.

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