Kansas University’s men’s basketball team couldn’t carry momentum from Friday’s 25-point victory over Missouri to Saturday’s game against Texas in the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
The Longhorns wore down the Jayhawks and won, 64-60. Texas will face Oklahoma State in the tournament championship at 2 p.m. Sunday. Kansas will find out who and where it will play in the NCAA Tournament during the selection show at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Wayne Simien, who scored 31 points against Missouri, scored two of KU’s first three baskets, with a three-pointer by Keith Langford sandwiched in between, as the Jayhawks jumped out to an 13-2 lead four minutes in.
Texas closed to within six points, 15-9, but the Jayhawks maintained that margin for a few moments before the Longhorns drew within four points, 22-18, on a three-pointer by Brandon Mouton.
The Longhorns cut the Jayhawks’ lead to just two points, 26-24, on a putback by Jason Klotz with less than five minutes left, but David Padgett answered with a long jumper. Texas tied the game, 28-28, on a three-pointer by Kenny Taylor with 2:20 left before halftime.
After Jeff Graves hit a free throw, Mouton gave Texas its first lead of the game, 31-29, with 1:27 left in the first half on an old-fashioned three-point play. The Longhorns led, 35-33, at halftime after Klotz hit a pair of free throws with less than a second left.
Brad Buckman gave Texas a four-point lead early in the second half, but KU tied the game at 37-all. The Jayhawks took a 40-39 lead on a free throw by Langford, but another three-pointer by Taylor gave Texas the lead again. The Longhorns extended that advantage to five points, 45-40, on a basket by Edgar Moreno.
KU tied the game with a 5-0 run, knotting the game at 45-all with 9:29 left, but Texas regained the lead with a 4-0 spurt. The Longhorns extended their lead to eight points, 57-49, on back-to-back three-pointers by Mouton nearly five minutes later.
The Jayhawks drew within five points, 57-52, but an old-fashioned three-point play by Taylor pushed the Longhorns’ lead back to eight points. KU clawed within two points, 60-52, with 1:30 remaining but couldn’t pull out the victory.
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Simien had nine points and 10 rebounds for KU, and Langford had 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists. J.R. Giddens had seven points and four rebounds, and Aaron Miles had nine points, two rebounds and three assists.
Michael Lee scored three points, and Jeff Graves had 14 points and eight rebounds. Padgett had four points and two rebounds before fouling out with 3:54 left.
Brad Buckman scored eight points for Texas, and Klotz had 14 points and seven boards. Royal Ivey had six points, and Brian Boddicker scored three points. Mouton had 18 points and five boards.
James Thomas scored three points and grabbed four rebounds for the Longhorns, and Taylor scored nine points. P.J. Tucker had a point and five rebounds, and Kenton Paulino had three boards. Moreno had two points.
KU was 20-of-48 shooting, including 4-of-14 shooting from three-point range, and 16-of-28 shooting from the charity stripe.
Texas was 24-of-67 shooting, including 6-of-21 shooting from long distance, and 10-of-15 shooting from the foul line.
The Longhorns had seven turnovers, and the Jayhawks turned the ball over 16 times. KU outrebounded Texas, 42-40.
All stats are unofficial
