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Texas and Big 12 Basketball Capsules: No. 23 Texas A&M beats Oklahoma State 76-61
COLLEGE STATION — Donald Sloan and Texas A&M turned a weakness into a strength Wednesday night.
Sloan scored 19 points and the 23rd-ranked Aggies led from start to finish in a 76-61 victory over Oklahoma State.
Texas A&M entered the game shooting a Big 12-worst 25 percent on 3-pointers in league play. But the Aggies connected on almost 48 percent of their long-range attempts in this one and matched their conference high for 3s with 10.
"Guys were feeling it," Sloan said. "That gave us extra confidence while we were shooting. A lot of them fell for us tonight and that was pretty much the difference in the game. How we started out was big."
The Aggies (21-8, 10-5) used their 3-point shooting to take an early lead and a 14-0 run in the opening minutes of the second half to keep it against the Cowboys, who were coming off Saturday's big win over then-No. 1 Kansas.
Texas A&M had its 18-point lead cut to eight before outscoring Oklahoma State 11-3 to stretch the cushion to 70-54 with about three minutes left. Sloan, a senior playing in his last home game, and B.J. Holmes both had 3s during that spurt.
"Once you start making your 3s it opens up a lot more, whether it's the drive or guys feeling more confident after they made the first shots," Sloan said. "It opened up the whole game for us."
James Anderson led the Cowboys (20-9, 8-7) with 27 points.
Oklahoma State shot poorly, finishing just under 34 percent, while the Aggies shot 53 percent overall.
"I was getting good looks. I just wasn't hitting them," said Anderson, who was 7 of 19. "It was a bad shooting night for our whole team. We didn't hit shots we normally hit."
Cowboys coach Travis Ford was worried about his team coming into this game after two bad days of practice.
"I thought they were terrific," Ford said of the Aggies. "The way they shot the ball in the first half was very impressive. We didn't play too well. We played the way we practiced the last two days."
The win left Texas A&M in a three-way tie for third place in the Big 12 with one regular-season game remaining. The Aggies are looking to finish in the top four to get a bye in the first round of the conference tournament.
"I think it would be good for our program to finish in the top four, especially with the things we've been through," Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said. "It would be a great compliment to this team, playing in the No. 1 RPI league. It would be great for our program."
The Aggies got 14 points from David Loubeau and Holmes added 12.
Texas A&M used a 14-0 run to start the second half to turn a three-point lead into a 52-35 advantage with about 17 minutes to go. The Cowboys were scoreless in the second half until a dunk by Matt Pilgrim about five minutes into the period.
The win improved A&M's record to 18-1 this season when holding an opponent under 70 points. Oklahoma State's 61 points were just four off its season low in a loss to Oklahoma.
The loss dropped the Cowboys to 0-5 this season on the road against Big 12 South foes.
The Aggies were up by 18 before Oklahoma State went on a 12-2 run, with 10 points from Anderson, to cut the lead to 59-51 with 8 minutes remaining.
Texas A&M led by 13 about 10 minutes before halftime, but Oklahoma State went on a 17-4 run to tie it at 28 about four minutes later. Anderson hit two 3-pointers and scored 10 points in that span.
There was a small scuffle just before that run by Oklahoma State after Texas A&M's Bryan Davis was fouled by Oklahoma State's Marshall Moses on a shot. Moses and Davis stood face to face and began jawing at one another and the two, along with Holmes, were all given technicals.
The Cowboys tied it again with 3 minutes left in the first half but never took the lead. Texas A&M was up 38-35 at halftime.
The Aggies started strong, hitting their first three shots — all 3-pointers — to take a 9-0 lead. They were up 17-7 about six minutes into the game after hitting five of their first six from 3-point range.
Hobson lifts No. 8 New Mexico over TCU, 73-66
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — How much does everyone at The Pit love Roman Martinez? Well, even the opposing coach was gushing about New Mexico's Mr. Nice Guy.
Martinez added 19 points in his final home game and Darington Hobson added 20 points and 14 rebounds, leading No. 8 New Mexico to a 73-66 win over TCU on Wednesday night and the Lobos' first outright conference title in 16 years.
It was a love fest for New Mexico's only senior, with fans giving him a huge cheer during introductions, then chanting his name in the closing minutes. Finally, students rushed the court and lifted Martinez on their shoulders in a victory celebration.
Afterward, Martinez returned to the affection.
"It was something I'll never forget," he said, his neck ringed by a basketball net. "They were so loud several times during the game and again after the game. It's truly a privilege to play here. We play for more than championships. We play for the state of New Mexico."
Dairese Gary added 14 points and made four free throws in the final 30 seconds as the Lobos (28-3, 14-2 Mountain West) won their 14th straight game and clinched their first outright season title since winning the Western Athletic Conference in 1994.
New Mexico also tied a school record for most wins — a 28-5 mark set in 1995-96.
It marked a multitude of successes for third-year coach Steve Alford. But when asked which part of the party meant the most to him, Alford noted his co-captain would list the team's accomplishments first.
"I'd say Ro, but I know who Ro is, and he's definitely about the team first," Alford said. "So what we've done as a team definitely goes to the front of the line. We've said from Year 1 that no player, no coach, is as important as the entire puzzle."
"With that said, Ro's as good as it gets," he added.
Ronnie Moss led the Horned Frogs (13-17, 5-10) with 14 points while Edvinas Ruzgas and Zvonko Buljan each added 12 but TCU lost its fifth in a row to New Mexico.
The Lobos are getting every opponent's best shot lately, with six of the past seven games turning into a dogfight down the stretch. New Mexico started slow, which Alford blamed on his team's desire to perform well in the final home game for Martinez, as well as for their fans.
TCU led 29-23 late in the first half then stayed within striking distance in the second, despite consecutive 3-pointers by Martinez that put New Mexico up 62-51 with 6:20 remaining, and got within 67-64 with a minute to play when Keion Mitchem hit a 3-pointer.
But Martinez scored inside and, after TCU's Greg Hill missed a long 3-point try, Gary began his march to the free throw line.
Even Horned Frogs coach Jim Christian couldn't stop praising Martinez.
"Love him. Everybody wishes they had a guy like him," he said. "He's a role model for a lot of guys, on and off the court. But as a basketball player, he's one of the guys, when the big shot needs to be made, the ball ends up in his hands."
Hobson logged his 12th double-double of the season and seventh in the past eight games, making a strong argument to be the Mountain West's player of the year, but it was Martinez's night.
As the only senior on a team that was picked fifth in the conference back in the preseason, he has been the guts and glue for the Lobos.
"They picked us fifth two years in a row," Martinez declared after taking the microphone for a postgame ceremony.
When Alford pulled Martinez out with 1.7 seconds to go, he left to a rousing cheer, then hugged his coaches and teammates as he worked his way down the bench.
"Ro Mar-ti-nez," the crowd chanted.
At the final horn, cheering students rushed the court and lifted Martinez above the fray. Martinez held up a sign that proclaimed "Ro!" and held his index finger high as fans wearing "Ro Knows" T-shirts celebrated at his feet.
"This team took on the face and the heart of their senior leader," Alford told fans, drawing a big cheer.
The Lobos also trotted out the Mountain West trophy and cut down the nets at The Pit. After sharing last season's championship with BYU and Utah, they're keeping this one all to themselves.
"Never done this before," Martinez said. "It's a great, great feeling."
-- Tim Korte
Uzoh scores 20 as Tulsa holds off SMU 58-55
TULSA, Okla. — Seniors Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan scored 22 of Tulsa's final 24 points to give Tulsa the lift it needed to prevail in its home finale, 58-55 over SMU on Wednesday night.
Jordan, the leading shot blocker in Tulsa history, got a piece of a potential game-winning shot by Derek Williams, and Uzoh scored the game's final points on two free throws with 9.1 seconds left. Uzoh scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and Jordan scored all 12 of his in the final 20 minutes.
"How appropriate that Jerome has the block, and Uzoh makes the two free throws," Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik said. "Those two guys have been really special players."
Uzoh and Jordan have helped the Golden Hurricane to a 64-9 home record in their four years, and Wednesday's win kept Tulsa (21-9, 10-5) in contention for a first-round bye in next week's Conference USA tournament in Tulsa.
The Hurricane have to win at Memphis in their regular-season finale Saturday to secure one of the top four seeds and a bye.
Jordan had 13 rebounds and three blocks, increasing his career total to 327.
Uzoh, who ranks third in scoring, 12th in rebounding and sixth in blocked shots in Tulsa history, was determined to make his final home game a success.
"I was excited when I got up today," he said. "In the second half, coach told me to be real aggressive and take matters into my own hands."
Uzoh hit a 3-pointer that put Tulsa ahead 56-47 with 2:18 to play.
SMU (14-15, 7-8) came back on an 8-0 run, spurred by two 3-pointers by Mouhammad Faye. His second 3 pulled the Mustangs to within 56-55 with 44 seconds left.
SMU had a chance to take the lead, but Williams, who led the Mustangs with 15 points, drove the lane and missed a runner which Jordan got a finger on. Uzoh grabbed the rebound and was fouled. After Uzoh hit both free throws, Williams attempted a long 3, but it clanged off the backboard.
Faye and Robert Nyakundi had 13 points each for SMU. The two combined for six 3-pointers, all in the second half, to keep SMU close as Williams struggled with an ankle injury.
The Hurricane trailed 27-24 early in the second half before Justin Hurtt scored seven points in 60 seconds and Uzoh hit a 3 to cap a 13-2 run for a 37-29 lead. The Mustangs didn't get closer than three points until the final minute.
Houston pulls away from Rice late for 78-70 win
HOUSTON — Aubrey Coleman scored 18 points and Kelvin Lewis added 17 as Houston pulled away from Rice late for 78-70 victory Wednesday night.
Sean Coleman had 12 points for the Cougars (15-14, 7-8 Conference USA), who hit 12 3-pointers and turned 22 Rice turnovers into 28 points.
Suleiman Braimoh and Arsalan Kazemi each had a double-double for the Owls (8-21, 1-14), who have lost six straight and eight of nine. Braimoh finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds while Kazemi had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
After trailing by as many as 15, Rice took its only lead of the second half, 63-62, on a layup by Braimoh with 7:33 to play. Houston the responded with a 14-2 run for a 76-65 lead 1:24 remaining. Coleman scored six of his points during the deciding run.
The Cougars ended the first half on a 9-2 run for a 39-31 advantage.
Johnson's 29 points lead Texas State to 83-76 win
SAN ANTONIO — Cameron Johnson scored 29 points and Texas State defeated UTSA 83-76 on Wednesday night.
Ryan White added 18 points for the Bobcats (14-15, 8-7 Southland).
Devin Gibson scored 13 to lead the Roadrunners (18-10, 8-7), who had their season-high five-game losing streak snapped.
After a back-and-forth beginning to the second half — six lead changes and five ties — Texas State took the lead for good with an 8-0 run that put it ahead 66-60 with 9:08 to play.
Gibson's layup cut the lead to four, but White then scored five unanswered points for the Bobcats. UTSA didn't get closer than six the rest of the way.
Texas State led for much of the first half and was up 17-7 4½ minutes into the game. The Roadrunners, though, stayed close, and Demarco Stepter's free throw for UTSA sent the game into halftime tied 39-all.
Nicholls State beats Texas-Arlington 73-64
ARLINGTON — Anatoly Bose scored 26 points to lead Nicholls State to a 73-64 victory over Texas-Arlington Wednesday night.
The Colonels (10-18, 6-9) have won three of their last four to keep their hopes alive for the final spot in the Southland Conference tournament next week.
Nicholls State scored the first eight points and never trailed in the game. Bose scored 17 in the first half and the Colonels led 39-20 at the break.
The Mavericks (16-12, 8-7) had won nine of their last 10, but committed 22 turnovers in this one, leading to 27 Nicholls State points.
Marquez Haynes, the nation's third-leading scorer, led Texas-Arlington with 25 points. The Mavericks got within three points in the final 30 seconds, but Dominic Friend made four free throws for the Colonels to put the game out of reach. Friend finished with 13 points.
Palmer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi top Lamar 79-55
BEAUMONT — Kevin Palmer scored 28 points to spark Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to a 79-55 victory over Lamar on Wednesday night.
Palmer also had eight rebounds and four steals for the Islanders (15-14, 9-6 Southland), who shot 54.4 percent (31 of 57). Demond Watt added 11 points, and Justin Reynolds and Filip Toncinic had 10 each.
Justin Nabors had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Cardinals (14-17, 5-10). Anthony Miles led Lamar with 14 points, and Reggie Mathis scored 11.
Lamar led for the last time at 23-22 before Palmer personally outscored the Cardinals 10-0 over a 2:14 span. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi never was in danger after that, and the lead was in double figures the entire final 15 minutes.
The Islanders have clinched a spot in the conference tournament. Lamar is still alive but must win its finale and still would need help.
Stephen F. Austin holds off Central Arkansas 54-49
CONWAY, Ark. — Eddie Williams had 10 points and 12 rebounds Wednesday night and Stephen F. Austin clinched first place in the Southland Conference East Division with a 54-49 victory over Central Arkansas.
Jordan Glynn led the Lumberjacks (21-7, 11-4) with 12 points and Walt Harris added 10. Stephen F. Austin locked up the No. 2 seed in next week's Southland Conference tournament.
Tadre Sheppard led the Bears (8-21, 2-13) with 13 points. Jared Rehmel scored 12, all on 3-pointers.
Stephen F. Austin did most of its damage in the paint, outscoring Central Arkansas 30-10. The Bears made nine 3-pointers, four by Rehmel, but came up short.
A late 12-2 Central Arkansas run trimmed the Lumberjacks' lead to 50-49 with 20 seconds left, but Harris and Glynn each made a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
State Women
Baylor's Griner likely to be disciplined for punch
LUBBOCK — The Baylor star who created buzz with her above-the-rim dunks is likely to face discipline after punching an opposing player in the face.
Officials ejected Brittney Griner after the freshman punched Texas Tech's Jordan Barncastle in No. 14 Baylor's 69-60 win over the Lady Raiders on Wednesday night.
Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey said she'll deal with Griner. But Baylor and the Big 12 Conference likely will consider their own punishments as the team prepares for Sunday's season finale against Missouri.
"There's no place for that in sports," Mulkey said. "It was ugly for women's basketball. It was ugly that coaches were on the court, that benches cleared, and I will take care of that with my team."
Baylor was up 55-39 when Barncastle fouled Griner while guarding her under the Lady Bears basket. As the Tech player was moving away and untangling her arm from Griner, the Baylor standout swung and landed a punch with her right hand on Barncastle's face.
Griner had scored 21 points when she was ejected with 9:01 to play.
Texas Tech coach Kristy Curry said Barncastle has an appointment in the morning to determine the extent of her injury.
"We're all in shock right now," she said. "It's very unfortunate. It's very sad. My only concern is Jordan Barncastle."
Barncastle was not available to the media following the game.
She, Curry and several other Lady Raiders gathered in the arena's broadcast room after Curry finished with reporters' questions to view the incident. The replay showed Griner taking an off-balance, roundhouse swing at Barncastle's face a few seconds after officials called her for a foul on Griner.
Tech (17-12, 5-10 Big 12) trailed 51-31 with 11:19 remaining but used a 14-5 run after the punch to pull within 60-55 with 3:01 left. Baylor hit 8 of 12 free throws down the stretch to seal the win, the fifth straight for the Lady Bears (22-7, 8-6).
Jordan Murphree scored 16 points to lead Texas Tech, which was outrebounded 42-26.
-- Betsy Blaney
No. 14 Baylor beats Texas Tech 69-60
LUBBOCK — Brittney Griner scored 21 points before getting ejected from the game to lead No. 14 Baylor past Texas Tech 69-60 on Wednesday night.
Officials tossed the freshman with 9:01 remaining after she punched Texas Tech sophomore forward Jordan Barncastle in the face.
Griner likely faces additional discipline from Baylor and the Big 12, and Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said she will also deal with Griner.
"There's no place for that in sports," Mulkey said. "It was ugly for women's basketball. It was ugly that coaches were on the court, that benches cleared, and I will take care of that with my team."
Baylor was up 55-39 when Barncastle fouled Griner while guarding her under the Lady Bears basket. As the Tech player was moving away and untangling her arm from Griner, the Baylor standout swung and landed a punch with her right hand on Barncastle's face.
Texas Tech coach Kristy Curry said Barncastle has an appointment in the morning to determine the extent of her injury.
"We're all in shock right now," she said. "It's very unfortunate. It's very sad. My only concern is Jordan Barncastle."
Barncastle was not made available to the media following the game.
She, Curry and several other Lady Raiders gathered in the arena's broadcast room after Curry finished with reporters' questions to view the incident. The replay showed Griner taking a roundhouse swing at Barncastle's face a few seconds after officials called her for a foul on Griner.
Tech (17-12, 5-10 Big 12) trailed 51-31 with 11:19 remaining but used a 14-5 run after the punch to pull within 60-55 with 3:01 left. Baylor hit 8 of 12 free throws down the stretch to seal the win, the fifth straight for the Lady Bears (22-7, 8-6).
Jordan Murphree scored 16 points to lead Texas Tech, which was outrebounded 42-26.
-- Betsy Blaney
No. 18 Texas beats Missouri 60-41
AUSTIN — Brittainey Raven scored 13 points as No. 18 Texas beat Missouri 60-41 on Wednesday night.
Erika Arriaran added nine points in the win. Cokie Reed held down the low post with nine points and five rebounds but injured her right ankle in the final minute of the game and had to be helped off the court by the training staff.
Toy Richbow's back-to-back baskets forced Texas to call a timeout with a slim 36-30 advantage. After the timeout, Kathleen Nash hit a 3-pointer from the right wing giving Texas a 42-32 lead, and the Longhorns (20-9, 9-6 Big 12) went on a 21-9 run in the final 13 minutes to shut down Missouri.
Shakara Jones and Jessra Johnson both scored 10 points for the Tigers (11-17, 1-14).
With 21 combined turnovers, neither Texas nor Missouri was able to generate much offense in the first half.
The Longhorns jumped out to an early 10-6 lead after two quick layups by Raven to start the game. Texas went on a 12-4 run in the next six minutes to provide some cushion and closed out the first half strong taking a 30-16 lead into halftime.
Missouri shot just 21 percent from the field in the first half, but Jones scored on three consecutive trips down the court after halftime to cut the Longhorns' lead to 34-24.
Big 12 Men
Jayhawks wear down K-State in Sunflower Showdown
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Wearing another Big 12 championship T-shirt, his teammates' arms around his shoulders, hands patting him on the head, Sherron Collins looked toward the video scoreboard as tears streamed down his face.
His career in Allen Fieldhouse, one of the greatest ever played out inside the storied gym, had come to a close.
And what a finish.
Shaking off his emotions and a tough shooting night, Collins scored 17 points in his final home game to help No. 2 Kansas beat No. 5 Kansas State 82-65 Wednesday and clinch its sixth straight Big 12 title outright.
"This is it, it's the last one," said Collins, 1 of 7 from 3-point range and 5 for 15 overall in his Phog finale. "I didn't want to get off the court. I wanted it to go on all night, but it couldn't."
Collins returned for his senior season on a pact with center Cole Aldrich, a you-stay-I-stay deal in an effort to win a second national championship in three years together.
Collins guided the Jayhawks to the first step: a Big 12 regular-season championship. Next up is the Big 12 tournament, where Kansas will be the No. 1 seed, and a role as favorites in the mad march to the Final Four in Indianapolis in April.
"This is my final game here, but we're not done playing," Collins told the still-packed crowd after the game. "We've still got some work to do."
Xavier Henry scored 15 of his 19 points in a tight first half and Kansas (28-2, 14-1) wore down Kansas State in a foul-filled game to extend the nation's longest home winning streak to 59 games. The Jayhawks are 32-2 against Kansas State in the Big 12 era and are in position to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Collins got them there.
He won't leave Lawrence as the school's career leader in points, assists or even steals. But Collins will walk away with more wins than other player in Kansas' distinguished history, 125 and counting, and a special place in the hearts of his teammates, coaches and fans.
"A lot of people love Sherron here," coach Bill Self said.
Kansas State (24-5, 11-4) relied on the guard combination of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente to keep it close while its front line struggled with foul trouble. Clemente had 21 points and Pullen scored 15 of his 20 in the first half, while the five biggest Wildcats combined for 19 points.
Kansas State had just four assists on 20 field goals and shot 7 of 24 in the second half to see its slim hopes for a first conference title in 33 years dashed.
"It's hard to win when you have four assists," coach Frank Martin said. "Kansas did a heck of a job of guarding us. Because of foul trouble and things of that nature, we had some lineups that made it difficult for us to score."
The last time these teams met, it was billed as one of the biggest games in the rivalry's 103-year history. The game matched the hype, with second-ranked Kansas pulling out an 81-79 overtime win at Kansas State's eardrum-bursting Octagon.
Turns out, it was just Round 1 of this rivalry rumble.
The Wildcats reeled off seven straight wins after that loss, wearing out opponents with their relentless style. The Jayhawks had clinched a share of the Big 12 title despite a sluggish loss at Oklahoma State.
You'd have to flip the calendar back to 1958 to find a Sunflower game that meant this much. That was the last time these teams played with both ranked in the top 5, a game in which No. 4 Kansas State and coach Tex Winter took down Wilt Chamberlain and the second-ranked Jayhawks 79-75.
With Wilt's No. 13 looming in the rafters 52 years later, Allen Fieldhouse was juiced like few times before. The Phog shook before the game started, especially after Collins took his tearful bows during a pregame ceremony, and even the pregame video was a decibel or two over the usual roar.
The Wildcats claimed they weren't intimidated, and didn't mind when Martin bluntly told them it was the biggest game since they'd arrived at the Little Apple.
They didn't play like it early.
Chucking up wild shots — Jamar Samuels shot one off the BACK of the backboard — and passes to the cheerleaders, Kansas State found itself in a 15-4 hole. At least it was better than last year, when Kansas went up 18-0 before the fans had settled into their seats.
"They outworked us," Pullen said. "They had some shots go their way and made some plays that we didn't make. A few loose balls, a few offensive rebounds — things that we are normally able to do, we just didn't do."
But, just like last year, the Wildcats clawed their way back.
Following the lead of the ever-calm Pullen, Kansas State whittled away, pulling within 40-36 on Wally Judge's soaring rebound slam just before halftime. The Wildcats kept it up to start the second, tying it at 45 on Clemente's 3-pointer in transition to cap a 7-0 run.
But that was it.
Kansas answered with a 12-2 run to go up 57-47, then Collins — 1 for 10 at the time — went to work, scoring seven straight points to put the Jayhawks up 66-56. Tyshawn Taylor added a 3-pointer to cap the 15-3 run, but this was Collins' night — evident by the tears flowing afterward from Aldrich and fellow teammate Brady Morningstar.
"It was emotional all day," said Kansas forward Markieff Morris, who had 10 points and nine rebounds. "He's been our leader, like a big brother. It's going to be tough not seeing him here next year, but he went out with a bang."
-- John Marshall
Big 12 Women
No. 3 Nebraska routs Kansas 77-52
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska's seniors made a pact not to cry when they were honored before their last game at the Devaney Sports Center.
Sure, there might have been a few tears after the third-ranked Cornhuskers sent out the most successful senior class in program history with a 77-52 victory over Kansas on Wednesday night. But mostly it was just a continuation of the celebration that this unprecedented season has become.
"We couldn't have scripted it any better than this," coach Connie Yori said. "We played really, really well on offense the first half and got off to a great start and great lead and were able to sub our seniors out in a well-deserving fashion. That's not something that we had anticpated. We expected it to be a little closer game, but it turned out to be just as perfect as we could ask for."
Kelsey Griffin, the Huskers' national player-of-the-year candidate, scored 18 points to lead four Nebraska players in double figures.
Now the Huskers (28-0, 15-0 Big 12), who clinched the Big 12 regular-season championship a week ago, would become the first Big 12 team to make it through a regular season with a perfect record if they win at Kansas State on Saturday.
They would be the second team — joining the 2005-06 Oklahoma squad — to go unbeaten in league play in the Big 12's 13-year history.
The Huskers led Kansas by 20 points in the first half and by 31 with nine minutes left. They posted their 11th win by 20 points or more and handed the Jayhawks (15-13, 5-10) their most lopsided loss of the season.
"There was so much emotion and we wanted to win this game and we wanted to play hard," Cory Montgomery said. "The way we played on the court showed that."
Griffin, Montgomery, Yvonne Turner, Kala Kuhlmann, Nicole Neals and Nikki Bober averaged 21 wins the past four seasons and will be leading the Huskers to the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years, possibly as a No. 1 seed this time.
"It was bittersweet, as any senior will tell you," Griffin said. "There's been blood, sweat and tears that have gone on that Devaney court. I remind myself I'll be practicing there, so that won't be the last time I'll be on it. I couldn't have asked for anything more."
Yori said she wasn't worried about her seniors possibly having difficulty maintaining their composure in their last home game.
"We hope that we still have a long ways to go in this season," she said. "If you have a Senior Day and it might be the last game of the regular season, or you're going into your tournament and maybe not expecting to go a long way, or you're not an NCAA tournament team. ... Well, that's a little different situation. With these guys, we hope we'll be playing for a little while."
Dominique Kelley added 16 points, Lindsey Moore 14 and Montgomery 12 for Nebraska.
Monica Engelman and Annette Davis scored nine points apiece to lead Kansas. Carolyn Davis, who had 17 against Nebraska in the team's first meeting and has been the Jayhawks' leading scorer in Big 12 games, was held scoreless. Davis played 13 minutes in the first half and just seven in the second.
"I wasn't pleased with her effort," Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "I can't play you if you're going to jog up the floor and make it a layup drill. I thought it would be good for her to sit on the bench if she didn't want to run."
Nebraska scored the first nine points and used an 11-2 run to go up 30-12. The bulge grew to 20 points late in the first half, and the Huskers led 49-32 at the break.
Kansas, playing on the road for the fourth time in five games, has lost four straight and six of its last seven.
Nebraska got one of its toughest tests of the season when the teams played in Lawrence, Kan., three weeks ago. The Huskers trailed with eight minutes left before rallying for a 67-60 win.
Memories of that game kept Nebraska from getting overly emotional for Senior Night, Griffin said.
"No one cried in the locker room before the game," she said. "After the game might not have been the same. Before the game, that's what was important. Kansas is a good team. What they did to us in Lawrence we didn't want to have happen again. We didn't want to be all emotional and get caught up in the moment. We wanted to play good, hard basketball."
-- Eric Olson
No. 20 OSU tops No. 13 Cyclones 78-70
STILLWATER, Okla. — Andrea Riley wiped away a few tears as her parents escorted her across the floor in what would be her final game at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Then the nation's fifth-leading scorer went to work, putting on what's become a typical performance in her time with No. 20 Oklahoma State.
Riley scored 32 points, fellow senior Tegan Cunningham added 20 and the Cowgirls beat No. 13 Iowa State 78-70 on Wednesday night for their third straight win.
Cunningham said she tried to be the "strong one" during a Senior Night ceremony before the game. She joined the program last season as a junior college transfer, a year after Oklahoma State went winless in Big 12 play.
"It's been a little more rough seeing everything going through four years but it was fun," Riley said. "It has been a journey, it has been magnificent through everything and I wouldn't trade it for anything else."
The senior tandem has been a force for Oklahoma State (21-8, 9-6 Big 12) as the program reached the top 10 for the first time ever, then immediately lost five in a row before the current winning streak.
After the Cyclones eliminated a 10-point halftime deficit, the duo helped make sure they'd go out on a winning note.
Riley made a jumper from the right elbow and then set up Cunningham for a 3-pointer in the left corner as the Cowgirls used a late 7-0 run to put the game away.
"Senior Night is a huge, emotional night, and I've seen it over years that you're either going to play lights-out or you're going to barely get through it and find a way to win, and that's kind of what we did tonight," OSU coach Kurt Budke said.
Kelsey Bolte made six 3-pointers and scored 20 points to lead Iowa State (22-6, 10-5), which could have wrapped up the No. 2 seed in next week's Big 12 tournament with a victory.
The Cyclones played without starting point guard Alison Lacey, their top scorer and the nation's leader in assist-to-turnover ratio. She did not travel with the team because of an illness.
"We just decided in her best interests and our team's long-term best interests that traveling wasn't a good idea," Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. "We'll see how she feels tomorrow, but there's no way she could have played tonight."
Iowa State fought back from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the game at 57 on a pair of free throws by Chelsea Poppens with 8:59 to play but then went 4 minutes without scoring as Oklahoma State rebuilt its lead. The Cyclones also failed to score for the final 6:50 of the first half as the Cowgirls went on a 12-0 run to lead 38-28 at halftime.
"At the end of the first half and we got the game tied, there were times when you could tell we were looking for someone on the floor to take over and not necessarily score but make a play," Fennelly said. "We get it to 57-all, we have three straight turnovers and that's the game."
After Megan Byford blocked a shot by Amanda Zimmerman that would have put the Cyclones ahead, Lakyn Garrison hit a 3-pointer to put OSU back on top. Riley followed with a fast-break layup off an ill-advised crosscourt pass, and the Cowgirls would lead 65-57 after a run of eight straight points.
Bolte's sixth 3-pointer got Iowa State within 65-62 with 4:07 remaining, but Oklahoma State scored the next seven points to put the game out of reach.
"We just had to gut it out," Riley said. "It wasn't pretty but we just did what we had to do,"
Riley cried after being introduced in the pregame ceremony, when she was honored as the team's career scoring leader. After the game, she thanked fans for their support and then finished her speech with this: "I don't want to cry, so I just want to say that we love you guys and we want y'all to come out and support us (at the Big 12 tournament) in Kansas City because we're going to get OU."
The Cowgirls play their regular season finale on Saturday at No. 11 Oklahoma.
Anna Prins added 12 points, and Whitney Williams and Poppens scored 11 apiece for the Cyclones, who had won 11 of their previous 14 games against OSU. Poppens also had a career-high 17 rebounds. Williams didn't start but had a career-best seven assists after she shifted over to point guard with Chassidy Cole ineffective in Lacey's place.
Bolte attempted a career-high 21 shots and was 6-for-17 from 3-point range.
"Kelsey's got the green light to shoot it anytime she wants to, and all of our kids can hit it," Fennelly said. "It's just that we had a little trouble when they just totally at times did not guard Denae (Stuckey) or Chassidy Cole. It clogs it up and it makes it hard to make that next pass.
"It's hard to win at this level sometimes when you don't have everyone on the court that at least has a chance to hit a shot once in a while."
-- Jeff Latzke
Lacey out with illness for No. 13 Cyclones
STILLWATER, Okla. — Iowa State leading scorer Alison Lacey missed the 13th-ranked Cyclones' game at No. 20 Oklahoma State on Wednesday night.
Team spokeswoman Erin Smith says Lacey did not travel with the team because of an illness.
Lacey, the Cyclones' starting point guard, leads the team with 17.6 points and 6.5 assists per game. She also leads the nation with a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Sophomore Chassidy Cole started in her place.
