Dallas ? No matter what numbers on the stat sheet sparkle next to Texas standout P.J. Tucker’s name, the Big 12 Conference player of the year’s best effort Saturday might have come when no one was looking.

With seconds winding down and Texas A&M trailing by three, Aggie sharpshooter Acie Law passed the rock to a teammate, hoping to get some off-ball separation from Tucker and, eventually, get a chance to tie the contest.

Tucker didn’t budge, Law didn’t get the ball back, and Texas A&M didn’t win.

“We knew we wanted to take Acie Law out, make sure he didn’t take the shot,” Tucker said following UT’s 74-70 victory in the Big 12 tournament semifinal.

Instead, Joseph Jones attempted his first three of the day for A&M – and missed badly. That was enough for those in Longhorn land to go wild.

Texas will play Kansas University at 2 p.m. today for the Big 12 tournament title. It’s a matchup of the Big 12 regular season co-champions, perhaps answering once and for all as to which is best in the conference this year.

“I guess so,” Tucker said. “It really doesn’t matter to us, really doesn’t. Playing Kansas would be fun because they are a great team.”

He didn’t say it, but Tucker must have felt some vindication Saturday. It was his snafu – an unawareness that the shot clock was running out – that helped Texas A&M stun Texas in the regular season just two weeks ago. A&M got the ball back, and Law hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

This time, Law was handcuffed – by Tucker, of all people.

“After the game, first thing I said to him was, ‘You know what? You have won a lot of games for us,'” UT coach Rick Barnes said. “I said, ‘Before you’re done, you are going to win a lot more.'”

Tucker’s in-your-face defense Saturday was overshadowed by his 26-point, 13-rebound effort against the Ags. The real show came in the first half, when Tucker had 15 points and eight rebounds, and UT had a 43-30 lead.

Tucker cooled off slightly, and with Jones containing LaMarcus Aldridge inside, the Aggies slowly climbed back in it.

“We kept competing, gave ourselves the opportunity,” A&M coach Billy Gillispie said. “But we just never could get the stop when we needed it or the defensive rebounds to put us over the hump.”

A&M now awaits the NCAA Tournament selection show today. Texas, meanwhile, gets ready for Kansas, a battle only fitting considering the same two teams raced neck-and-neck for first place during the regular season – and finished in a tie.