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Durant takes center stage as Texas faces New Mexico State

Mar 15, 2007 - 4:04 AM New Mexico St (25-8) at Texas (24-9) 7:25 pm EDT

SPOKANE, Washington (Ticker) -- Kevin Durant has risen to every challenge this season and now he gets the chance to shine on the biggest stage.

The spectacular freshman leads fourth-seeded Texas into its NCAA Tournament East Region first-round matchup against New Mexico State on Friday.

The Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, Durant has been unstoppable all season, scoring over 30 points eight times for the Longhorns.

Texas made it to the championship game of the Big 12 Conference tournament before dropping an 88-84 overtime decision to Kansas. Durant scored 37 points in the loss and is averaging 31.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in his last six games.

The Longhorns are making their ninth straight appearance - and 25th all-time - despite losing all five starters from last season. They have reached the NCAA regional semifinals four times in the last five years, including a run to the Final Four in 2003.

Texas, which has won eight of its last 10 games, fields one of the youngest teams in the tournament, starting four freshmen and one sophomore.

One of five finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA National Player of the Year), Durant has already been tabbed the National Player of the Year by ESPN.com, SI.com and The Sporting News.

The 6-10 Durant is the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 nationally in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 25.6 points and 11.3 rebounds. He set a Big 12 tournament scoring record with 92 points in three games.

New Mexico State won its first Western Athletic Conference championship in eight years and it came just two years removed from a 6-24 season.

The Aggies wrapped up WAC tournament championship behind strong performances from senior Elijah Ingram and juniors Justin Hawkins and Tyrone Nelson. Hawkins, who was named the tournament MVP, averaged 17 points and five rebounds in the tournament.

Ingram, who had a season-high 25 points in the semifinal victory over Boise State, added 18 in Saturday's win over Utah State. In three tournament games, he averaged 15 points while shooting 60 percent from 3-point range.

Nelson will likely draw the defensive assignment on Durant.

The winner will face either fifth-seeded Southern California or 12th-seeded Arkansas in Sunday's second round.