Texas A&M Does 'Just Enough' To Hold Off Nebraska

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon could find more than a few points to gripe about following the Aggies' 70-64 win over Nebraska during Thursday's Big 12 tournament quarterfinals at the Sprint Center.

But in the end, it's about moving on and that is what the fourth-seeded Aggies were able to do in a tougher than expected game against No. 12 seed Nebraska. The Cornhuskers hung around and even pulled within a point of the lead on a Jorge Brian Diaz jumper that made it made it 54-53 with 4:24 remaining.

Texas A&M seemed relieved just to be moving on to the next round where No. 1 Kansas awaits Friday in the semifinals.

"We let our offense affect the defense and that got them back in the game," Turgeon said. "In the end we did just enough to win."

Forced to play without starting point Dash Harris, whose injured wrist wasn't healed enough to play, the Aggies got another outstanding performance from senior shooting guard Donald Sloan in his absence. Sloan finished with a team-high 23 points, which included 3 of 5 shooting from 3-point range to spark the Aggies.

It was Sloan's 3-pointer that stretched the lead back out to four points after Diaz' jumper. The Cornhuskers would not get as close again.

Sloan said he felt he needed to do more after finding out Harris would not be able to go in the morning.

"I just had it in the back of my mind that we can't let this one get away like we did last year in our first game," Sloan said. "If I had to do more, I would."

But Sloan didn't have to go it alone. B.J. Holmes, starting in place of Harris, finished with 11 points, four assists and no turnovers, while forward Khris Middleton added 17 points to help pick up the slack from foul-plagued Bryan Davis, who had just four points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. All three A&M players connected on three 3-pointers apiece against Nebraska's zone.

Ryan Anderson led the way for the Cornhuskers with 16 points, while Sek Henry had 13 points and Diaz finished with 14.

GAME BALL GOES TO:

Texas A&M senior guard Donald Sloan, who took on the extra burden of doing more in the absence of starting point guard Dash Harris. Sloan finished with a game-high 23 points and four assists, which hitting 8 of 15 from the field and 3 of 5 from 3-point range to carry the Aggies.


HEART GOES OUT TO:

Nebraska senior guard Ryan Anderson did what he could Thursday, scoring a team-high 16 points in 32 minutes. But it wasn't enough as Anderson's Nebraska career comes to a close.


KEY ELEMENT:

With starting point guard Dash Harris sitting out due to an injured right wrist, the Aggies' starting backcourt of Donald Sloan (right) and B.J. Holmes combined for eight assists and no turnovers.


WHERE TO FROM HERE:

The Aggies, already in next week's NCAA Tournament field as a likely at-large team, could improve it's seeding and the likelihood they will play in the South Regional with a victory over top-ranked Kansas Friday. Otherwise, A&M could be looking at heading East or West.

Nebraska, meanwhile, is headed home to consider what's next and how to get the program back on track. Should be an interesting offseason for the Cornhuskers and head coach Doc Sadler.


WHO'S GOT NEXT?

Texas A&M now has the honor of facing No. 1 Kansas during Friday's semi-final round which should be a virtual home game for the Jayhawks in the Sprint Center. The Aggies nearly pulled off the upset of Kansas during the regular season, but fell to the Jayhawks at home 59-54 on February 15.


SOUNDBITE

"We had an opportunity earlier in the year and we kind of let it slip by. This is another chance. I guess walking through it, we'll see tomorrow."

Donald Sloan on facing Kansas on Friday in the Big 12 tournament semifinals after nearly upsetting the Jayhawks during the regular season.