Cowboys Stop Longhorns for Top Seeding in Big 12

Joey Graham scored 20 points, including a dunk seconds before the buzzer Monday night, to help No. 8-ranked Oklahoma State gain a share of its first Big 12 Conference regular-season title with a 76-67 victory over No. 10 Texas at Stillwater, Okla.

In front of a sellout crowd of 13,611, the Cowboys (23-3, 13-2) earned the top seeding in the conference men’s basketball tournament and their first league crown since the 1990-91 Big Eight title. Oklahoma State still must beat Texas A&M;, winless in 14 league games, to win the outright title.

John Lucas III, who finished with 14 points and seven assists, made a layup with 44 seconds left to put Oklahoma State ahead, 71-67.

The Longhorns (21-5, 12-3) dropped to second place in the Big 12 but are assured of a first-round bye in the league tournament. Jason Klotz led Texas with 19 points. Cowboy Coach Eddie Sutton passed Kansas’ Phog Allen to move into ninth place on the coaching victories list with 747.

Connecticut 89, Seton Hall 67 -- Emeka Okafor had 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Huskies over the Pirates in a Big East Conference game at Storrs, Conn.

The 6-foot-10 junior center, who was honored along with Connecticut’s seniors because he will graduate in May, is expected to be one of the first-round picks in the NBA draft, although he hasn’t yet made himself available.

He played his last home game in pain from back spasms. During timeouts, and for the few minutes he was out of the game, Okafor was on the floor in front of the bench stretching.

The victory over the Pirates (19-8, 9-6) gave the Huskies (24-5, 12-3) sole possession of first place in the Big East for one day.

In a matchup of the teams tied with Connecticut when Monday’s game started, No. 3 Pittsburgh plays at No. 12 Providence tonight.

“It was something to remember,” Okafor said of his final home game. “I was thinking of previous seniors, and then it was my turn.”

Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun said Okafor is ready for the NBA “in a whole bunch of different ways.”

John Allen had 17 points for Seton Hall.

Northern Iowa 68, No. 15 Southern Illinois 52 -- At Cedar Falls, Iowa, the Panthers (18-9, 12-6) ruined a bid by the Salukis (24-3, 17-1) to become the first Missouri Valley Conference team to go unbeaten in the league since Bradley did it in 1985-86.

Air Force 62, San Diego State 49 -- The Falcons (21-5, 11-2 Mountain West) used their stifling defense to shut down the Aztecs (14-14, 15-8) and clinch their first conference title. Air Force had never before finished higher than sixth place when it was in the Western Athletic Conference.

WOMEN

No. 2 Duke 90, North Carolina State 57 -- Alana Beard’s 22 points led the Blue Devils (24-3, 15-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) over the Wolfpack (16-3, 8-8) at Raleigh, N.C.