Austin, Texas ? After a miserable Texas shooting performance in the first half, Dion Dowell took the shortest route possible to the basket.

There was no missing when Dowell threw down a two-handed dunk to start the second half, a thunderous bucket that kick-started a 13-0 run that sent the Longhorns to a critical 63-51 victory Saturday over Missouri.

“We were ahead, then we turned it over, and they’re dunking it,” said Missouri coach Quin Snyder, whose team had held Texas to just 6-of-32 shooting in the first half and led 25-24 at the break.

Dowell’s dunk gave Texas new life. Kenny Taylor hit a three-pointer, Jason Klotz hit three straight baskets, and Texas (19-8 overall, 8-6 Big 12 Conference) was off and running to a victory that guaranteed at least a .500 regular-season finish in the Big 12.

While that mark won’t ensure the Longhorns a seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament bid, it was considered a necessary benchmark.

Klotz made a huge impact, particularly with forward Brad Buckman playing just 19 minutes because of foul trouble. Buckman had five double-doubles in the previous six games, but finished with just four points and six boards, all in the first half.

“He was unbelievable in the second half,” guard Daniel Gibson said of Klotz. “I told the guys, ‘Let’s just get the ball to Jason and feed off him.”‘

Klotz finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, none bigger than his three straight buckets in the critical Texas run.

Shooting just 2-of-8 in the first half, Klotz hit a layup and stepped away from the basket to swish two jumpers as the Longhorns opened a 37-25 lead. He hit all four of his shots in the second.

Texas' Daniel Gibson, right, tries to retain possession under pressure from Missouri's Jason Horton in the Longhorns' 63-51 victory. UT won Saturday in Austin, Texas.

“I thought Jason had the look on his face, and the way he was carrying himself, that he’s going to make all his shots,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said.

The Longhorns also got 20 points from Taylor, who hit three of his four three-pointers in the second half.

Texas managed just two field goals during the final 13 minutes of the first half, but stayed close by hitting 10 of 14 free throws.

“I just knew we had to pick our energy up. Halftime was the talk of talks,” Klotz said.

“I told them I didn’t think it was possible we could shoot the ball any worse,” Barnes said. “You have to believe you’re not going to shoot 18 percent again.”

Far from it. Texas hit 12 of 17 shots in the second.

No. 22 Oklahoma 103, Baylor 60

Norman, Okla. — Taj Gray scored 16 points, Jaison Williams had 15 points and 10 assists, and Oklahoma shot a school-record 66 percent.

David Godbold added 14 points, and Johnnie Gilbert scored 13 for Oklahoma.

The Sooners (21-6, 10-4) extended a 16-point halftime lead by hitting their first seven shots of the second half. Terrell Everett made a three-pointer to start a 26-3 run that ended any chance of a comeback by Baylor (9-16, 1-13).

The Bears, who have lost 22 straight games to the Sooners, never put up much resistance.

Aaron Bruce scored 22 points, and Patrick Fields had 11 for Baylor in its most lopsided loss since a 91-42 defeat Feb. 8, 2003, at Oklahoma.

Kansas State 84,

Colorado 82

Boulder, Colo. — Jeremiah Massey had 28 points and 19 rebounds, and Kansas State held off a late Colorado rally in the “race” to stay out of 11th place in the Big 12.

Sophomore Lance Harris added a career-high 20 for the Wildcats (15-10, 5-9), who won their second straight after six consecutive losses. They stayed in the running for an NIT bid, assuming they don’t win the conference tournament, which is what they most likely would need to go to the NCAAs.

CU freshman Richard Roby made seven three-pointers to hit 30 points for the first time in his career.

The Buffs (13-13, 4-10), who now lead only Baylor in the Big 12, trailed by 16 with five minutes left, but got it down to two twice inside the last 20 seconds.

Texas A&M 85,

Texas Tech 63

College Station, Texas — Antoine Wright scored 29 points, Joseph Jones had 16 in the second half, and Texas A&M used a late 31-6 run to beat Texas Tech.

Texas A&M (18-7, 7-7) led, 52-51, before outscoring Tech 19-2 over the next seven minutes, capped by Wright’s layup with 6:20 remaining.

The record A&M crowd of 13,136 taunted Tech coach Bobby Knight throughout the timeout that followed. Knight was so upset, he spent the timeout jawing with the officials.