Mountaineers beat Panthers, clinch bye

Kevin Pittsnogle used the worst game of his career as motivation to play one of his best.

Pittsnogle, held scoreless by Pittsburgh two weeks ago, had 26 points in his final home game to lead No. 16 West Virginia to a 67-62 victory over the eighth-ranked Panthers (21-5, 10-5) on Monday night.

The host Mountaineers (20-8, 11-4), who clinched a first-round bye in the Big East tournament, never trailed in earning a second straight 20-win season for the first time since 1997-98.

West Virginia has its first bye in the 12-team tournament, joining No. 2 Connecticut and No. 4 Villanova. The Mountaineers overtook Pittsburgh for sole possession of third place and can finish no worse than fourth.

Pittsburgh needs a win at home Friday night against Seton Hall and losses by Marquette and No. 20 Georgetown to earn the final bye.

West Virginia has three consecutive wins after losing a season-high three straight.

(19) Oklahoma 67, Oklahoma St. 66: Terrell Everett made two free throws with 0.6 seconds left and the Sooners earned their fourth one-point victory in as many games over the visiting Cowboys (20-6, 11-4 Big 12).

After Jamaal Brown had given the Cowboys (15-14, 5-10) a one-point lead with two free throws with 4.7 seconds left, Everett dribbled up the left sideline and collided with Byron Eaton, who was called for a foul.

Each team took the lead twice in the final minute.

Women

Cappie Pondexter scored 26 points and No. 6 Rutgers won its second straight Big East regular-season title with a 48-42 win over No. 7 Connecticut (26-4, 14-2) in Piscataway, N.J.

Renee Montgomery led UConn with 14 points.

The Scarlet Knights (24-3, 16-0) finished undefeated in the Big East for the first time in the 11 years they have been a member and earned the top seed in the conference tournament, which begins Saturday in Hartford, Conn.