COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NATIONAL ROUNDUP : Houston Struggles, but Oklahoma State Beats Nebraska, 80-69

Proving it could win on an off-night by Byron Houston, No. 12 Oklahoma State put itself in position to win the the Big Eight Conference championship.

Houston scored only 13 points and fouled out with 4:05 left, but the Cowboys got past No. 15 Nebraska, 80-69, Wednesday night at Stillwater, Okla., to conclude an undefeated home season.

Oklahoma State (21-5 overall, 10-3 in the Big Eight) was 14-0 at home this season, its first perfect record at home since 1965, when the Cowboys last won the Big Eight title.

Oklahoma State is tied with Kansas heading into Saturday’s final game at Iowa State. Kansas closes its season Sunday at Nebraska (23-6, 8-5).

Rich King had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Nebraska.

No. 8 Duke 79, Clemson 62-- The Blue Devils (24-6, 10-3) wrapped up a 16-0 home season and moved into the Atlantic Coast Conference lead with the victory at Durham, N.C. Duke plays No. 4 North Carolina on Sunday.

David Young scored 23 points, Ricky Jones added 17 and Dale Davis had 13 points and nine rebounds for Clemson (10-16, 1-12).

Christian Laettner scored 17 points for Duke.

No. 18 Louisiana State 79, Florida 66--Shaquille O’Neal had 19 points and 19 rebounds as the Tigers held off the Gators at Gainesville, Fla., to clinch at least a tie for the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship.

Florida (11-15, 7-10) scored eight consecutive points to slice what once was a 15-point deficit to 66-59, but O’Neal made a three-point play with 2:18 left.

LSU (20-7, 13-4) hit four free throws and Harold Boudreaux and Vernel Singleton scored on breakaway dunks in the final minute.

Stacey Poole scored 21 points, and Dwayne Davis had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Florida.

Connecticut 62, No. 20 Seton Hall 60--Chris Smith hit a 15-foot jump shot as time ran out in overtime to give the Huskies a Big East Conference victory over the Pirates at Storrs, Conn.

Smith missed with three seconds left, but got the rebound and made the game-winner after Scott Burrell stole the ball from Anthony Avent with 42 seconds left.

Rod Sellers had 21 points and 12 rebounds for Connecticut (17-9, 8-7), and Terry Dehere scored 18 for Seton Hall (18-7, 8-7).

No. 23 Mississippi State 94, Auburn 76--The Bulldogs trounced the Tigers at Starkville, Miss., to set up a last-game showdown with LSU for the SEC regular-season title.

Mississippi State (19-7, 12-5), one game behind, plays host to LSU Saturday for the title.

Larry Patrick scored 20 points for Auburn (12-14, 5-12).