Big 12 Conference Tournament Quarterfinals: In a second half of big runs, No. 1 Texas had a little more energy than No. 9 Oklahoma State did, and the Longhorns escaped with a 66-59 win. Sophomore guard D.J. Augustin led the Longhorns with 24 points and ignited a 14-0 run in the second half to pull away from the Cowboys. However, Oklahoma State answered with a 12-2 run that cut Texas’ lead to three. Augustin and the Longhorns held off the Cowboys in the final minutes.
No. 4 Oklahoma won an ugly 54-49 game against No. 12 Colorado. Both teams shot less than 35 percent from the field, less than 27 percent from three-point range and less than 59 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore forward Tony Crocker led the Sooners with 12 points. Only three Buffaloes scored more than six points in the game. The Sooners move on to play Texas in the semifinals.
No. 2 Kansas won a hard-fought quarterfinal game against No. 7 Nebraska 64-54. The Jayhawks picked up the offensive pace in the second half after trailing 27-22 at the break. Sophomore guard Sherron Collins led Kansas with 13 points and five assists. In a slow-paced game, Kansas controlled the rebounds with a 33-22 advantage that included 13 offensive rebounds.
No. 6 Texas A&M ended any debate on whether the Aggies deserve an NCAA Tournament bid with a 63-60 win against No. 3 Kansas State. Senior guard Dominique Kirk hit 5-of-6 three-pointers and finished with a team-high 19 points. Texas A&M prevented Wildcats freshman phenom Michael Beasley from putting up a double-double for only the fourth time this season. The Aggies will face Kansas in the semifinals. [3/14/08]
