All visiting No. 6 West Virginia had to do to remain undefeated was withstand a miraculous close to regulation by Seton Hall and another big scoring game by Jeremy Hazell.

The Mountaineers blew a 10-point lead with less than a minute to play in regulation yesterday in Newark, N.J., then managed to win 90-84 in overtime in the Big East opener for both teams despite a career-high 41 points by Hazell.

"It's a huge concern," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said of losing the late lead. "Our two guys missed the front ends of 1-and-1. If we make those, then it really doesn't matter."

At least the Mountaineers (10-0), one of six remaining unbeatens in Division I, were able to overcome their missed free throws.

Seton Hall (9-2) couldn't, finishing 16 of 33 from the line, including going 8 of 20 from there after halftime.

"The free throws were a disaster," Pirates coach Bobby Gonzalez said. "You cannot miss 17 free throws when you play the No. 6 team in the country in your building with a chance to win."

Devin Ebanks had 22 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists for West Virginia, Da'Sean Butler had 21 points and six assists, and Kevin Jones added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Mountaineers.

The three combined for all 13 of West Virginia's points in the overtime.

Butler hit a 3-pointer 34 seconds into the extra period to give West Virginia the lead for good. The biggest plays of the overtime, though, belonged to Jones.

Ebanks missed a jumper as the shot clock wound down with 56 seconds to play and Jones grabbed the rebound. With 32 seconds left, Jones hit a 3 to give West Virginia an 87-80 lead and the Pirates didn't get closer than six points the rest of the way.

FIGURE SKATING

JAPAN MEN'S TEAM SET FOR VANCOUVER

Daisuke Takahashi won the Japan national figure skating championships yesterday in Osaka to secure a place in the Vancouver Olympics.

Takahashi, who was first after the short program, made several mistakes in yesterday's free skate but was good enough to finish first with a total of 261.13 points.

"I'm happy to be Japan champion but I'm not completely satisfied with my performance tonight," Takahashi said. "I have some time to practice before the Olympics and need to improve physically and mentally."

Oda, who has already secured a place in Vancouver, fell on his opening quad toe loop but was solid the rest of the way and finished second with 244.30 points.

Takahiko Kozuka was third with 236.16 points and is likely to be added to the Olympic team when the Japan Skating Federation announces the squad today.

Takahashi, a former top-ranked skater, was a three-time winner of the Japan nationals before he injured his right knee last year and missed the entire 2008-09 season.

In the women's short program, Mao Asada earned 69.12 points to finish first and strengthen her chances of securing a berth for the Olympics.

Yukari Nakano, who is also bidding for one of two places remaining for Vancouver, was second with 68.90 points while Miki Ando was third with 68.68.

Ando has already earned a place in Vancouver by finishing second at the GP finals.

SAILING

ALFA ROMEO LEADS SYDNEY-HOBART RACE

New Zealand maxi Alfa Romeo maintained its overnight lead over British entry ICAP Leopard today as the leading yachts in the Sydney-to-Hobart race made their way down the New South Wales state south coast.

With about a third of the race distance completed, Alfa Romeo and skipper Neville Crichton led ICAP Leopard by about three nautical miles. Four-time and defending champion Wild Oats XI was another nautical mile back in third.

With forecasts of light winds, none of the leading yachts was expected to break the race record. The first yachts were due to reach Hobart, on the island state of Tasmania, tomorrow or early Tuesday.

The record was set in 2005 when Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, finished the 628-nautical-mile (723-mile) race in 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes.

SPEEDSKATING

U.S. SETS TEAMS FOR OLYMPIC 500 METERS

Lauren Cholewinski and Mitchell Whitmore won spots on the American Olympic team in the 500 meters yesterday at the U.S. Speedskating Championships in Kearns, Utah.

Whitmore led the 500 after the first heat and won with a combined time of 70.6 seconds. He joins Tucker Fredricks, Shani Davis and Nick Pearson, who had already qualified in the 500 for the U.S. team headed to the Vancouver Games.

Cholewinski won the women's title with a combined time of 72.21 seconds.

She trailed Heather Richardson and two-time Olympian Jennifer Rodriguez after the first heat, but they had already qualified for Vancouver and did not skate in the second at the Utah Olympic Oval.

The U.S. women's 500 meter skaters will be Richardson, Rodriguez, Elli Ochowicz and Cholewinski.

WORLD HOCKEY

U.S. BEATS SLOVAKIA AT JUNIOR EVENT, 7-3

St. Cloud State goalie Mike Lee made 13 saves to help the United States open the world junior hockey championship with a 7-3 victory over Slovakia last night at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

John Carlson, Jeremy Morin, Derek Stepan, Matt Donovan, Danny Kristo, Jordan Schroeder and Jerry D'Amigo scored for the Americans.

In the opening Group B game, Gabriel Bourque had three goals as five-time defending champion Canada routed Latvia, 16-0.