Texas Slips Past Sooners in Big 12 Tournament, 66-63

DALLAS, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns ended Oklahoma's grip on the Big 12 tournament. Barely.

Brandon Mouton scored five points in the final 26.8 seconds, capping No. 11 Texas' comeback from a 12-point deficit with 7:09 left and giving the Longhorns a 66-63 victory over the three-time defending tournament champion Sooners on Friday night.

Mouton, who scored eight of his 16 points during the late rally, tied it at 63 by driving through the middle of the lane for a layup. He was fouled on the play and his free throw put Texas ahead for the first time since the opening minutes.

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Then Oklahoma point guard Drew Lavender tried backing down defenders in the lane when he lost the ball on a spin move, leaving it behind him. When he went to retrieve it, he swatted the ball to Mouton, who was quickly fouled with 5.8 seconds left. He made both shots.

The Sooners gave Lavender the final shot, a running 3-pointer, but it came up short.

Texas (22-6) avoided its first three-game losing streak since starting 0-4 in coach Rick Barnes' first season, back in November 1998. Another loss could've been damaging to the Longhorns' seed in the NCAA tournament.

But by recovering and beating its top rival for a fifth straight time, Texas advanced to the tournament semifinals Saturday against either No. 18 Kansas or Missouri.

The Sooners had knocked the Longhorns out of the conference tournament four of the last six years.

It's been a heck of a run for Oklahoma (19-10) in the Big 12 event. The Sooners knew they needed another good showing to get a spot in the NCAA field. The Sooners jeopardized their nine-year streak with a 6-9 skid over January and February, including a 29-point loss to Texas.

With a roster of only eight players, four of them freshman, Oklahoma barely had enough bodies to try protecting its once-bulging lead. Two fouled out and three others had four fouls.

De'Angelo Alexander led the Sooners with 15 points, Brandon Foust had 11 and Jason Detrick scored 10. Lavender had eight, with five turnovers.

P.J. Tucker matched Mouton with 16 points, but fouled out with 1:29 left. That put Jaison Williams at the line to shoot three; he made two and it was the last points the Sooners would score. Their final field goal was by Detrick with 3:13 left, which put OU up 61-59.

Coming off a season-low 48 points against Kansas State, Texas made seven of its first nine shots and led 17-12. Then Oklahoma went on a 12-0 run and remained in front until the final minute.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Texas Slips Past Sooners in Big 12 Tournament, 66-63

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