Field Level Media
Mar 13, 2021
Matt Coleman III had a career-high 30 points as No. 13 Texas defeated No. 12 Oklahoma State 91-86 in the final of the Big 12 tournament on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.
Texas (19-7) became the first team from the state of Texas to win the conference tournament. The Longhorns have lost six Big 12 tournament title games.
The Longhorns receive the Big 12's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though both teams are expected to be high seeds when the pairings are announced Sunday.
Jericho Sims added a career-high 21 points to go with 14 rebounds for Texas. Andrew Jones and Kai Jones each added 13.
Oklahoma State (20-8) had won eight of its last nine games, six against ranked teams.
The Cowboys were led by Cade Cunningham with 29 points, 25 in the second half. Isaac Likekele (13), Kalib Boone (12), Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (11) and Avery Anderson III (10) scored in double figures for the Cowboys.
It was the 18th time Cunningham has scored at least 17 points in the second half. He scored 10 points in the first 5:41 of the second half as the Cowboys outscored the Longhorns 17-9 to open the second half. But Texas responded with a 9-2 run to reopen a big lead. When Coleman hit a 3-point basket, Texas was back up by 11.
Texas controlled the pace early. They held Cunningham to just two points on 1-of-7 shooting (0-for-3 from 3-point range) in the first 14 minutes of the half. Cunningham finished with just four points in the half before picking up his third foul.
With Cunningham on the bench, the Longhorns went on a 10-2 run to open a 40-27 lead. The Longhorns took a 43-33 lead into halftime. They were led by Kai Jones with 11 in the first half. Coleman and Sims each had nine points in opening 20 minutes.
OSU was led by Boone's seven points.
--Field Level Media