Fri Mar 14 15:10:37 2008

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No. 6 Texas shakes Pokes in Big 12 quarters

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Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - D.J. Augustin posted 24 points as sixth- ranked Texas shook off Oklahoma State, 66-59, in a Big 12 quarterfinal.

Damion James added 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Longhorns (27-5), who advance to face the winner of Oklahoma-Colorado in the semifinals on Saturday.

Ibrahima Thomas scored 19 points for the Cowboys (17-15), who have lost three of their last four games. Obi Muonelo contributed 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Marcus Dove pulled down a team-high eight boards in defeat.

Shocked to attention after facing a deficit at intermission, Texas exploded to score the first 14 points of the second half, pushing its lead to 46-33 with 6:19 played on a James lay-in.

However, Oklahoma State hung in and a 9-0 run capped by James Anderson's three brought the Cowboys to 56-52 with 4:33 remaining, and after James responded for the Longhorns, a three from Muonelo made it 58-55 with 3:40 to go.

James and Justin Mason then sank back-to-back easy layups to give the Longhorns a seven-point edge and Texas held on for the win.

Texas began with a 9-3 run, then saw Oklahoma State strike back with an 11-4 burst to go up 14-13 on a Dove free throw with 12:52 left in the half.

The Longhorns went up 21-16 on a James three-pointer just after the midway point, but Byron Eaton's layup pulled the Cowboys even, 23-23. Augustin nailed a long three to break the tie, then sank another to put Texas ahead 30-23 with 4:34 to play.

Once again, Oklahoma State rallied, ripping off seven in a row ending on a Terrel Harris trey with under a minute to go. Augustin's running layup gave Texas a two-point edge, but Harris drained another from beyond the arc for a 33-32 Cowboys lead at the half.

Game Notes

Texas holds a slim 39-34 lead in the all-time series...The Longhorns won all three meetings against the Cowboys this season...The teams combined for only 17 turnovers...Eaton led all players with nine assists, and Mason led his team with eight.