Nebraska knocks off No. 4 Cowboys

Joe McCray scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half and Aleks Maric added a career-high 15 to lead Nebraska to a 74-67 upset of No. 4 Oklahoma State on Tuesday night at Lincoln, Neb.

It was Nebraska’s first win in 20 games against a Top 10 opponent. The Cowboys won their last six games by an average of 15 points.

The Cowboys (20-4, 10-3) committed 19 turnovers and went eight straight possessions without scoring to start the second half.

The Huskers (12-12, 5-8) used a 12-0 run from a halftime tie to break open the game .

John Lucas led Oklahoma State with 20 points. Joey Graham, the Big 12’s second-leading scorer, was held to 12 before fouling out.

(2) North Carolina 81, N.C. State 71: Stuck on the bench lately in a horrid shooting slump, Melvin Scott replaced the ill Rashad McCants in the starting lineup and scored 12 points to help lead the Tar Heels (23-3, 11-2 ACC) past the Wolfpack (15-11, 5-8) at Raleigh, N.C.

McCants didn’t make the 25-mile trip because of an intestinal disorder.

LSU 61, (16) Alabama 59: Ross Neltner’s tip-in at the buzzer gave the Tigers (16-9, 9-4 SEC) a win over the Crimson Tide (21-5, 10-3) at Baton Rouge, La., and denied the Crimson Tide from clinching the SEC West.

Women

(9) Rutgers 54, (24) Boston College 36: Cappie Pondexter scored 14 points and led a 15-0 spurt that carried the Scarlet Knights (21-5, 12-2 Big East) to a victory over the Eagles (17-8, 8-6) at Piscataway, N.J. … (11) Connecticut 97, Pittsburgh 49: Ashley Battle scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Huskies (19-6, 12-2 Big East) past the Panthers (12-13, 4-10) at Storrs, Conn.