Texas Downs No. 23 Oklahoma St.

January 24, 1999 / 1:06 AM EST / AP

Chris Mihm had 22 points, 14 rebounds and made key defensive plays at the end as Texas playing without its top scorer beat No. 23 Oklahoma State 73-70 Saturday night.

Mihm, a 7-foot center, blocked two 3-point attempts by Oklahoma State's Joe Adkins in the final seconds to preserve the victory for the Longhorns, who have won eight of their last 10 games after a 2-7 start. It was Mihm's fourth straight double-double.

Kris Clack had 25 points for Texas (10-9, 5-1 Big 12), which has won nine of its last 10 games against Oklahoma State (13-6, 4-1). Texas took over sole possession of first place the Big 12 South division.

Oklahoma State hasn't won in Austin since 1975.

Texas trailed 41-35 at halftime but began the final 20 minutes with a 7-2 run to take the lead at 44-43. Oklahoma State battled back to go up 67-64 with a 9-0 run capped by an Adrian Peterson's 3-pointer with 4:24 left to play.

Texas retook the lead again at 69-67 before Oklahoma State's Desmond Mason, who scored 20 points in the first half, tied the game at 69-69 on a layup with 2:06 left.

Mihm then hit a jumper and Akins made missed one of two free throws that left the Cowboys down 71-70 with 39 seconds left. Texas' Ivan Wagner then made two foul shots with 35 seconds left for the final margin.

Behind Mihm, Texas scored 48 points in the paint and outrebounded Oklahoma State 35-30. Texas outshot Oklahoma State 51 percent to 45 percent.

Texas played without leading scorer Gabe Muoneke, suspended for one game after punching two Kansas players in a loss earlier in the week. Muoneke's suspension left Texas with just six scholarship players available for the game.

Mason was 8-of-11 shooting in the first half, but was held to 2-of-4 shooting in the second and finished with 24 points.

Peterson scored 19 for Oklahoma State.