COL BKB: Texas 76, Minnesota 62

GREENSBORO, N.C., March 19 (UPI) -- A.J. Abrams ignited Texas after a slow start Thursday and the Longhorns used a second-half surge to down Minnesota 76-62 in the NCAA Tournament's East Region.

The 10th-seeded Golden Gophers built an early 10-point lead, but Texas put together a 12-point run early in the second period and limited Minnesota to 39 percent shooting for the game.

Abrams scored 26 points to lead the comeback, Damion James had 17 and Dexter Pittman 15 for the seventh-seeded Longhorns (23-11).

Abrams gave Texas its first lead of the game by hitting a 3-pointer with 3:06 to play in the first half and he made another 3-pointer just before the buzzer to put the Longhorns in front by four at the break.

Texas put the game away by holding Minnesota scoreless for a stretch of 4:48 in the second half -- increasing its lead to 59-44.

Minnesota, in its second season under Coach Tubby Smith, finished the campaign at 22-11.

The Gophers were led by Lawrence Westbrook with 19 points.