KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Oklahoma State’s 30 percent foul shooter swishes two in a row in the final seconds. Then Keiton Page, the best free-throw shooter in the conference, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 16 seconds to go, giving Nebraska a chance for one more shot.
But Lance Jeter fell down under the basket and the Cornhuskers failed to put the ball up, enabling the Cowboys (19-12) to hold on for a 53-52 victory Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Page made two key 3-pointers and scored 16 points to lead the Cowboys, who will meet top-seeded Kansas today in the second round.
“I was feeling horrible after that missed free throw,” said Page, who hit 90.2 percent from the foul line and missed only five free throws throughout the Big 12 season. “But I had confidence in my teammates that we were going to come down and get a stop.”
When Page missed, Nebraska (19-12) grabbed the rebound. But Jeter, who led the Huskers with 17 points, fell down before he could shoot.
Missouri 88, Texas Tech 84
Marcus Denmon scored 20 points and the Tigers (23-9) ended a three-game losing streak as well as Pat Knight’s time as coach of the Red Raiders (13-19).
Oklahoma 84, Baylor 67
The Sooners (14-17) hit the Bears (18-13) with an 18-2 punch early in the first half and took advantage of the absence of Perry Jones, who was declared ineligible by the NCAA hours before tipoff after an investigation about whether the standout freshman or his family received preferential treatment or improper benefits from an AAU coach before enrolling in college.
The Associated Press
Big 12 men
At Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.
Wednesday’s results
No. 9 Okla. St. 53, No. 8 Nebraska 52
No. 5 CU 77, No. 12 Iowa St. 75
No. 10 Oklahoma 84, No. 7 Baylor 67
No. 6 Missouri 88, No. 11 Texas Tech 84
Today’s games
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 9 Okla. St., 10:30 a.m., TV: ESPN2
No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 5 Colorado, 1 p.m., TV: ALT
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, 5 p.m., TV: ALT
No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 6 Missouri, 7:30 p.m., TV: ESPN2
Women
All games on FSN
Wednesday’s results
No. 1 Baylor 86, No. 8 Kansas 51
No. 4 Kan. St. 56, No. 5 Iowa St. 53
No. 2 Texas A&M 77, No. 7 Texas 50
No. 3 Okla. 71, No. 6 Texas Tech 69
Friday’s games
No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 4 K-State, 11 a.m.
No. 2 Texas A&M vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m.
