NORMAN (AP)–Romero Osby scored a career-high 24 points and Oklahoma held off Texas A&M for a 65-62 win Saturday in a preview of the first round of next week’s Big 12 tournament.
The Sooners (15-15, 5-13 Big 12) led by as many as 14 early in the second half before A&M rallied and had a chance to take the lead in the final minute.
Khris Middleton missed a jumper that would have put the Aggies (13-17, 4-14) ahead with 53 seconds left. Elston Turner missed a potential tying 3-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer.
Andrew Fitzgerald added 10 points and seven rebounds for Oklahoma.
David Loubeau led Texas A&M with 15 points and Middleton scored 14.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH BILLY KENNEDY
“I thought both teams fought hard. The difference was we had a hard time guarding in the post. They got a little bit closer to the basket and were able to score on us. I thought once we started doubling the post it helped us some. But you have to give them credit, they made the plays they had to down the stretch.”
On having to battle back from a big second-half deficit…
“We’re not good enough offensively to have to do that, and it showed. I thought we were lethargic at times, and you can’t give a team a 14-point lead on their home floor when you struggle to score like we did. Our guys fought hard and I thought if we could have ever taken the lead it would have been a big, big help and put a little more pressure on them, because both of us struggle winning close games at the end.”
Did you see what happened there on the out-of-bounds jump ball call at the end?
“No, it kind of epitomizes our whole season, another bad break. We thought it went out on them, but I wasn’t real pleased with the officiating most of the game. But you have to put yourself in situations where one possession isn’t that big. Unfortunately it was a big possession.”
Were you surprised they called a jump ball in that situation?
“If they don’t know it, that’s the right call to make. I don’t think they’re able to go to the monitor in an out-of-bounds situation. But, they should have been able to make that call.”
On facing Oklahoma again Wednesday…
“There will be no surprises. Obviously they know everything we do and our personnel, and hopefully we know everything they do. It’s going to come down to the toughest team, toughness and who competes the hardest on a neutral floor. Both teams are proven that we’re pretty much the same in a lot of areas. We have the same deficiencies and have some of the same strengths at times.”