Once again, Boggan is man of the hour

Given a chance to keep Oklahoma State’s season alive, Mario Boggan came through with the latest in a series of clutch plays.

Boggan scored from the right side with 11.5 seconds left to give Oklahoma State a 57-56 victory over No. 7 Texas A&M; (25-6) in the Big 12 Conference tournament quarterfinals Friday night at Oklahoma City.

It was the fourth time Boggan put the Cowboys (21-11) ahead in the final minute of a game this season, and the second time he made a game-winner against a ranked opponent.

After Antanas Kavaliauskas missed a baseline jump shot that would have given the second-seeded Aggies a three-point lead, the Cowboys took possession and set up their last chance during a timeout with 21.3 seconds remaining.

Boggan took a pass, spun and made the winning shot.

“Coach told us, ‘Make a play at the end.’ That’s what it’s about right here ... a big-time game,” Boggan said.

No. 9 Georgetown 84, No. 20 Notre Dame 82 -- Jeff Green scored a career-high 30 points, including the winning basket with 13 seconds left, to lead the Hoyas past the Fighting Irish in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament at Madison Square Garden.

The top-seeded Hoyas (25-6) advanced to the final for the first time since 1996 with their 14th win in 15 games. They’ll play No. 13 Pittsburgh.

After Green made the go-ahead layup, he missed the ensuing free throw. The Irish (24-7) had a chance for the win, but Russell Carter’s three-point shot bounced high off the rim.

Utah State 79, No. 10 Nevada 77 -- Chaz Spicer made two free throws with 2.5 seconds left, and the Aggies (23-10) upset the Wolf Pack (28-4) in the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament at Las Cruces, N.M.

Utah State, which beat Nevada for the second time in a week, advanced to today’s championship game against New Mexico State.

Spicer, whose two free throws with three seconds left in overtime beat Nevada, 79-77, last week in Logan, Utah, was fouled by Matt LaGrone on a drive to the basket.