Lopez twins to enter draft

Stanford sophomore Robin Lopez is joining his 7-foot brother Brook in entering the NBA draft.

The brothers made their announcement Monday through their mother, Deborah Ledford.

It was expected that Brook would declare himself eligible for the NBA, but Robin was not so certain. They were prep stars in Fresno, and came to Stanford together. Now they will depart as a tandem, too.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me because I really enjoyed my two years at Stanford," Robin Lopez said in a statement. "I have always hoped I would have an opportunity to play in the NBA and I feel now is the right time to make that dream a reality."

Brook Lopez, a third-team All-American and a first-team Pac-10 selection, averaged 19.3 points and 8.2 rebounds to go with 56 blocks this season. He scored the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds left in an 82-81 victory over Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament to put Stanford in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2001.

He averaged 16.0 points and 7.1 rebounds in his two college seasons, blocking 101 shots and shooting 48 percent from the field in 53 games.

Robin's confidence during the tournament run was contagious, according to his teammates. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.2 boards and blocked 83 shots for the Cardinal.

ALFORD'S DEAL EXTENDED

The University of New Mexico has given a three-year extension to men's basketball coach Steve Alford, which will keep him coaching the Lobos through the 2015-16 season.

GAMECOCKS SIGN HORN

Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn is leaving for South Carolina after the Hilltoppers best finish in the NCAA tournament in 15 years.

Horn told the school's president he had accepted an offer from the Gamecocks to replace Dave Odom, who retired at the end of the season, Western Kentucky University spokesman Bob Edwards said.

South Carolina athletic officials did not confirm Horn's hiring, but university trustees plan to meet Tuesday morning to approve a new athletic contract. A news conference to announce a new coach for the Gamecocks has been scheduled for later in the afternoon.

Horn, 35, went 111-48 in five seasons at his alma mater. The Hilltoppers went 29-7 this season, winning the Sun Belt Conference title and advancing to the West Regional semifinals, where they lost to top-seeded UCLA 88-78.

It was Western Kentucky's best season since making it to the regional semifinals in 1993.

Horn was an assistant at Western Kentucky, Morehead State and Marquette before becoming the Hilltoppers head coach in 2003, replacing Dennis Felton, who left for Georgia.

South Carolina went 14-18 this season, including a 5-11 mark in the Southeastern Conference.

The Gamecocks struggled in the SEC under Odom, going 128-104 overall and 41-71 in the conference in his seven seasons at the school.

South Carolina has made the NCAA tournament only once this decade, in 2004, and only four times since 1974.

AP-WS-03-31-08 1831EDT