Blake Griffin watches from bench, as Abrams, Texas top Sooners

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/21/2009 - Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Abrams had 23 points and scored 16 straight for Texas down the stretch, as the Longhorns notched a signature 73-68 victory over second-ranked Oklahoma in a heavyweight Big 12 tussle.

Abrams buried five three-pointers with four of them coming over the final eight minutes as the senior guard took over the game with 18 second-half points.

Damion James had 16 points and 10 rebounds while Dogus Balbay logged 10 points, a game-best nine assists and eight boards for Texas (18-8, 7-5 Big 12), which had lost four of six and was coming off a thorough 81-66 dismantling at the hands of Texas A&M.

Ranked as high as seventh early in the season, the Longhorns fell on hard times since starting their Big 12 slate at 4-1, enduring a three-game losing streak that precipitated a tumble from the Top 25. However, Saturday's performance will make it hard for NCAA committee members to keep Texas out of the big dance come Selection Sunday.

Texas has now won six straight home games against top-five teams.

Freshman Willie Warren connected for six three-pointers en route to 27 points and helped fill the huge void left by an injury to standout sophomore Blake Griffin.

Griffin was struck over the bridge of his nose by Texas' Dexter Pittman with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Visibly woozy and his nose bloodied, Griffin remained on the bench following a timeout a short time later at the insistence of OU trainers. At halftime it was decided he would not return due to a suspected concussion. He had to be helped to the locker room by trainers at the break.

Tony Crocker netted 14 points with seven rebounds and Taylor Griffin, Blake's brother, scored nine with eight boards for the Sooners (25-2, 11-1), who saw their 13-game win streak come to an end at the most inopportune of times.

Oklahoma's recent dominance coupled with No. 1 UConn's loss to Pitt earlier this week had the Sooners positioned to take over the top spot in the polls next week. OU's lone defeat coming in was to Arkansas back on December 30.

Blake Griffin finished 1-of-5 from the field with two points and three rebounds in 11-plus minutes.

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