Missouri men's basketball team ousted from Big 12 tournament

~ Texas A&M defeated Missouri 86-71 in the second round of the Big 12 tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- David Loubeau scored Texas A&M's first eight points and got the Aggies off to a quick start en route to an 86-71 victory over Missouri on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament.

Loubeau and B.J. Holmes combined for 31 points in a first half that ended with A&M leading 46-33 over a team it squeaked past 91-89 in overtime Jan. 15. They both finished the game with 20 points.

The Tigers (23-10), who have lost eight in a row to A&M, will nervously await Sunday's announcement by the NCAA tournament selection committee. Ranked as high as ninth earlier this season, they've dropped three of their last four and fallen completely out of the poll.

In Friday night's semifinals, the third-seeded Aggies (24-7) will hook up with second-seeded Texas in the 220th game between the two, the most-played rivalry in Texas A&M history.

The No. 10 Longhorns swept the season series this year in convincing fashion, winning by 21 at home and by 20 at Texas A&M.

It was business as usual for the Tigers away from home despite a partisan crowd in downtown Kansas City. They were 17-1 in Mizzou Arena this year but 6-8 elsewhere.

Marcus Denmon led Missouri with 22 points.