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Kirk, Texas A&M stop three-game slump at Oklahoma St.

Jan 27, 2008 - 1:43 AM STILLWATER, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- It was not pretty, but at least Texas A&M could call it a win.

Dominique Kirk converted two free throws with 44 seconds remaining as the No. 16 Aggies squeezed out a 59-56 victory over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Conference on Saturday.

Kirk finished with 11 points and Josh Carter led the way with 13 for Texas A&M, which snapped a three-game losing streak in league play.

Texas A&M (16-4, 2-3 Big 12) was coming off one of the most memorable games in college basketball this season, a 116-110 loss in five overtimes to Baylor on Wednesday. It was the longest game in Big 12 history.

Despite their extended time on the court this week, the Aggies were able to grind out this win, rallying from a five-point deficit midway through the second half and locking down the Cowboys in the final minutes.

Trailing 47-42 with 10:27 to play after Oklahoma State's Obi Muonelo capped a 10-2 run with a layup, Joseph Jones had consecutive baskets for Texas A&M to ignite an 11-5 burst that gave the Aggies a 53-52 edge with 4:32 remaining.

The Cowboys grabbed a 56-53 lead on a 3-pointer from Byron Eaton and a free throw from freshman James Anderson. But Bryan Davis tipped in a miss before Kirk converted his two attempts to give the Aggies a 57-56 lead.

Freshman Ibrahima Thomas missed two free throws and Anderson was off the mark on a 3-pointer in the closing moments for Oklahoma State (10-9, 1-4), which managed just one field goal in the last nine-plus minutes.

Davis, who finished with eight points, sank two free throws with 3.9 seconds left and Donald Sloan stole the ensuing inbounds pass to seal the final margin for Texas A&M, which finished 10-of-13 at the line and grabbed nine steals.

Anderson scored 15 points and Thomas chipped in 13 for the Cowboys, who dropped their fourth straight game and are off to their worst start in the Big 12.

Oklahoma State finished 41 percent (21-of-51) from the field, missing six of its last seven shots. It also converted just 5-of-12 free throws.

The Cowboys did not have those shooting woes early, grabbing a 13-7 on a 3-pointer by freshman Marshall Moses with 8 1/2 minutes expired.

The Aggies appeared fatigued early, turning the ball over eight times in the opening seven-plus minutes. They went on to finish with 16 giveaways.

Although it went 46 percent (12-of-26) from the field in the opening 20 minutes with six 3-pointers, Oklahoma State was forced to settle for a 34-32 deficit at the half as Texas A&M closed with a 7-2 run.

Josh Carter converted a layup with 2:22 remaining for the Aggies and, after a basket inside by Muonelo, Jones had a layup and freshman B.J. Holmes knocked down a shot from the arc with eight ticks left.

Texas A&M extended the lead to four points in the opening moments of the second half on a layup by Davis, but Oklahoma State later rallied behind a 13-4 run to pull ahead 50-44 on a 3-pointer by Anderson with 9:34 to play.