Men's Basketball | WCC honors Jeremy Pargo as player of the year

SPOKANE — Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo is the West Coast Conference player of the year, the eighth consecutive season a Zags player has won the honor.

The junior from Chicago averaged 11.8 points and a league best 6.2 assists for No. 22 Gonzaga (24-6 overall, 13-1 WCC), which on Monday night secured its eighth consecutive WCC regular-season title.

In winning the league's top award, Pargo follows ex-Zags Derek Raivio (2007), Adam Morrison (2006), Ronny Turiaf (2005), Blake Stepp (2004, 2003), Dan Dickau (2002) and Casey Calvary (2001).

"I'm honored to be recognized with some of these great players," Pargo said. "It was a big surprise for me."

Gonzaga's Mark Few and Randy Bennett of Saint Mary's shared the award as coach of the year.

The 10-player all-WCC first team included Pargo and teammates David Pendergraft of Brewster and Matt Bouldin.

The WCC all-freshman team included two Zags — Steven Gray of Bainbridge Island and Austin Daye.

Ohio State beats

Purdue in overtime

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jamar Butler scored 23 of his 25 points after halftime and Othello Hunter, one of Ohio State's worst free-throw shooters, made two from the line and made a big defensive play in overtime as the Buckeyes beat 15th-ranked Purdue 80-77.

The loss dropped Purdue (23-7, 14-3 Big Ten), a half-game behind first-place Wisconsin in the conference race.

The Buckeyes (18-12, 9-8), who had lost their last four, might have revived their hopes for an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament.

E'Twaun Moore scored 16 points for the Boilermakers, who had won 13 of 14, and Scott Martin added 14 points.

Other games

At No. 1 North Carolina 90, Florida St. 77

Tyler Hansbrough scored 20 points and Ty Lawson added 10 in his first home game in a month to help the Tar Heels (28-2, 13-2 Atlantic Coast) defeat the Seminoles (17-13, 6-9). Lawson missed six games because of a sprained ankle.

Florida State's Jason Rich scored 27 points.

At No. 9 Texas 70, Nebraska 66

D.J. Augustin scored 22 points and the Longhorns (25-5, 12-3 Big 12) went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to defeat Nebraska (17-11, 6-9).

Texas is tied for first place in the conference with No. 5 Kansas.

At No. 21 Marquette 67, Florida Gulf Coast 37

Lazar Hayward collected 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles (22-7) to a decisive victory.

At Portland St. 76,

Eastern Washington 74

Deonte Huff scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Vikings (21-9, 14-2 Big Sky) over the Eagles (11-19, 6-10).

Kellen Williams, a graduate of Franklin High School in Seattle, led Eastern with 18 points.

Note

• Nolan Richardson says he is talking with Arkansas State officials about the school's coaching vacancy.

Richardson, 66, has been out of college coaching since being fired by Arkansas in 2002.

He guided the Razorbacks to the 1994 national title.