Da'Sean Butler scored 22 points in his final home game and 10th-ranked West Virginia defeated No. 19 Georgetown 81-68 last night in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers (23-6, 12-5) clinched a double bye into the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.
The free fall continues for Georgetown (19-9, 9-8), which was ranked No.7 three weeks ago but has lost four of five and, if it loses at home Saturday to Cincinnati, could fall out of the top half of the 16-team conference, putting its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy.
The Mountaineers led by as many as 27 early in the second half, and the Hoyas, playing without leading scorer Austin Freeman (ill), couldn't catch up.
Butler was introduced last among West Virginia's three seniors before the game and received the loudest ovation. He has 1,936 points and will end up in third place on the school's career scoring list behind Jerry West (2,309) and Hot Rod Hundley (2,180).
Women's highlights
No.1 Connecticut 76, No.6 Notre Dame 51 - Tina Charles had 18 points and eight rebounds to become Connecticut's career leader in both categories in a Big East win over host Notre Dame (25-4, 12-4).
The Huskies (30-0, 16-0), who reached 30 wins for the fifth straight season, can match the NCAA women's record of 70 consecutive wins - set by UConn from 2001-2003 - in a Big East tournament quarterfinal on Sunday.
Charles passed Nykesha Sales (1995-98) as the school's all-time leading scorer and Rebecca Lobo (1992-95) as its leading rebounder.
Notable The Mountain West Conference reprimanded New Mexico coach Steve Alford over his heated exchange of words with Brigham Young forward Jonathan Tavernari, despite the coach's insistence it was just a byproduct of a hard-fought game.
In a video posted on YouTube, Alford can be heard directing a vulgarity at Tavernari while the teams shook hands after New Mexico's 83-81 victory Saturday.
The Mountain West cited Alford's "unduly provocative language toward an opposing student athlete" for the action.
Alford attributed it to the emotions of the moment and said he called BYU coach Dave Rose to apologize.
"It happened in a competitive nature," Alford said. "I don't think there was any harm done."
¢ Former Tennessee forward Tyler Smith has signed a two-month contract to play in Turkey.
Smith was dismissed from the Volunteers on Jan.8 after his arrest on gun charges. He pleaded guilty Feb. 12 to possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with altered serial number and was sentenced to two years of judicial diversion.
Smith will play for Bornova in the Turkish Basketball League, but the short contract will allow him to be available for the NBA draft on June 24.