Big 12 Conference Tournament Semifinals: No. 4 Oklahoma stayed close with No. 1 Texas for much of the first half, but the Longhorns ended it on a seven-point run for a 36-29 lead. The Sooners tied it at 36 early in the second half, but Texas answered with an 11-0 run in which Oklahoma didn’t score for nearly five minutes. Junior guard A.J. Abrams led Texas with 24 points and torched Oklahoma from three-point territory, hitting seven three-pointers.
No. 2 Kansas set up a third consecutive Big 12 championship match up with Texas after beating No. 6 Texas A&M 77-71. The Aggies hung with the Jayhawks for much of the game but couldn’t come closer than two in the final minutes. Kansas played an efficient game, shooting 53.8 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line. They also committed only seven turnovers. Junior guard Brandon Rush led Kansas with 28 points. [3/15/08]
