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Jones' 18 points helps lead Texas A&M past Oklahoma

Feb 3, 2008 - 4:47 AM COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Ticker) -- Joseph Jones and Texas A&M erased thoughts of a dismal first half.

Jones scored a season-high 18 points as the 23rd-ranked Aggies posted a 60-52 victory over Oklahoma in Big 12 Conference play on Saturday.

Bryan Davis had 13 points and eight rebounds and Donald Sloan scored 10 for Texas A&M (18-4, 4-3), which has won three straight following a three-game losing streak.

"The Aggies are a very good team," Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said. "(Texas A&M coach) Mark (Turgeon) has done a really good job here. They responded to some adversity in the early part of their conference schedule but are playing well now."

The Aggies had to rally in this one after trailing at the break, 29-23, due mostly to horrid 28 percent (7-of-25) shooting in the first half.

"It was a great win today," Texas A&M assistant Scott Spinelli said. "Obviously our guys were very resilient shooting 35 percent and beating a very good team. One of the things we were most proud about is when we were down we were able to come back, make some stops, and make some plays."

Texas A&M, which finished 35 percent (17-of-48) overall, began the second half on a 10-2 run to take a 33-31 lead 3:21 after intermission.

"We just felt like defense had to carry us," Jones said. "Sometimes you don't make shots and sometimes they're just not falling, but defense has to step up and take control of the game. Then when the shots start falling the defense has to stay consistent."

Davis had five points and Jones added four in the spurt.

After David Godbold made a 3-pointer to give the Sooners a 49-47 lead with 4:12 remaining, the Aggies outscored Oklahoma, 13-3, to end the game.

"You have to take what a team gives you," Davis said. "Their bigs were in (foul) trouble so we tried to get them out of there in the second half."

Godbold scored 22 points and Longar Longar had nine for the Sooners (15-6, 3-3), who shot 41 percent (18-of-44) and saw their three-game league winning streak end.

"We just couldn't get those loose balls," Godbold said. "The Aggies were out hustling us to them and getting their hands on balls we couldn't get our hands on. That's something we have to focus on if we want to win the close games."