COL BKB: Texas A&M 70, Nebraska 64

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 11 (UPI) -- Donald Sloan scored 23 points in helping No. 24 Texas A&M hold off a second-half Nebraska run Thursday in a 70-64 Big 12 quarterfinal victory.

The Aggies (23-8) draw No. 1-rated Kansas (30-2) in the tournament semifinals Friday. Nebraska competed its season with a 15-18 record.

Texas A&M dominated the game in the first half. Nebraska didn't get on the board until the game was four minutes old and the Aggies up 8-0. A&M built a 37-28 lead by halftime and were ahead 44-28 1:11 into the second half.

Nebraska crawled back into contention, however, with Ryan Anderson's 3-pointer with 9:05 to go getting the Cornhuskers within 49-47. Sloan scored seven of his team's next 13 points and the Aggies were up 62-55 going into the final two minutes. A string of free throws put the game away.

Sloan's 23 points came on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-5 on 3-point ties. Khris Middleton had 17 points and B.J. Holmes 11 for the Aggies.

The Cornhuskers were led by Ryan Anderson with 16 points. Brian Diaz had 14 and Sek Henry 13.