Ford Drives Texas Past Oklahoma, 76-71

A Texas sophomore ruined Oklahoma’s senior day.

T.J. Ford, after scoring only four points in the first half, led No. 4 Texas back from a 15-point second-half deficit as the Longhorns ended No. 5 Oklahoma’s 37-game home winning streak Saturday with a 76-71 victory at Norman, Okla.

Ford scored 14 second-half points, all in the final 10 minutes, as Texas (22-5, 13-3 Big 12) swept the season series from the Sooners and secured the No. 2 seeding in the conference tournament.

Ford’s biggest shot was his last -- a jump shot over Quannas White from about 10 feet that gave the Longhorns a 74-71 lead with 19 seconds remaining. After three missed shots by Oklahoma, two free throws by James Thomas with 1.2 seconds left secured the victory.

“When we get down, we really look to me to make things happen and I just take it upon myself, that we’re going to get back in the game and I’ve just got to find a way to get momentum,” said Ford, who had 10 assists and one turnover.

Oklahoma (21-6, 12-4) seemed to have all the momentum when Hollis Price, one of four seniors playing their final home game, made a three-point basket to give the Sooners a 58-43 lead with 13:48 remaining.

But Brian Boddicker made a three-point basket at the other end to ignite Texas to a 9-0 run.

No. 2 Kentucky 69, No. 3 Florida 67 -- The Wildcats ended the Gators’ school-record, 19-game home winning streak at Gainesville, Fla., and won their 20th game in a row. Kentucky (26-3) became only the second team to finish 16-0 in the Southeastern Conference, the 1995-96 squad being the first. Matt Bonner had 25 points for Florida (24-6, 12-4).

No. 8 Marquette 70, Cincinnati 61 -- Dwyane Wade scored 26 points at Milwaukee as the Golden Eagles (23-4, 14-2) won the Conference USA title. Leonard Stokes had 10 points for the Bearcats (17-10, 9-7).

No. 9 Wake Forest 78, North Carolina State 72 -- Josh Howard scored 27 points at Raleigh, N.C., as the Demon Deacons (23-4, 13-3) won their first outright Atlantic Coast Conference title since 1962. Marcus Melvin and Julius Hodge each had 17 points for the Wolfpack (16-11, 9-7).

No. 11 Xavier 96, Temple 65 -- Romain Sato scored 29 points at Cincinnati as the Musketeers (24-4, 15-1 Atlantic 10) tied a school record with their 15th consecutive victory. Temple (13-14, 10-6) had won six in a row.

No. 15 Louisville 100, Charlotte 59 -- Luke Whitehead had 19 points and a career-high 15 rebounds at Louisville, Ky., to lead the Cardinals (21-6, 11-5 Conference USA). Demon Brown scored 12 points for Charlotte (13-15, 8-8).

No. 16 Notre Dame 86, Georgetown 80 -- Chris Thomas had 29 points and seven rebounds at Washington as the Fighting Irish (22-8, 10-6 Big East) ended a three-game losing streak. It was Notre Dame’s fourth consecutive victory over Georgetown (14-13, 6-10).

No. 18 Memphis 90, Alabama Birmingham 79 -- Chris Massie had 27 points and 11 rebounds at Birmingham, Ala., as the Tigers (22-5, 13-3 Conference USA) won their 11th in a row. Demario Eddins led the Blazers (16-11, 8-8) with 18 points.

No. 19 Creighton 57, Indiana State 56 -- Kyle Korver had 15 points and nine rebounds at St. Louis and the Bluejays (27-4) defeated the Sycamores (7-24).

No. 20 Oklahoma State 77, Texas A&M; 52 -- Ivan McFarlin had 17 points and 14 rebounds at Stillwater, Okla., as the Cowboys (21-8, 10-6 Big 12) ended a three-game losing streak. Bernard King had 17 points for the Aggies (14-13, 6-10).

No. 23 Mississippi State 67, Auburn 45 -- Derrick Zimmerman had 15 points at Starkville, Miss., as the Bulldogs (19-8, 9-7) clinched the SEC West title. The Tigers (19-10, 8-8) have lost five of seven.