Lincoln, Neb. ? Since the season began, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler has said his team will go as far as center Aleks Maric takes it.

On Saturday, Maric scored 31 points, pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds and hit five of six free throws in the final 47 seconds to lead Nebraska to an 82-77 overtime victory against Missouri.

That performance not only reinforced Sadler’s season-long mantra, it impressed Missouri coach Mike Anderson.

“He played well,” Anderson said. “He got to the free-throw line and made his free throws. We made him work for his shots. When you get about 20 rebounds, you’re working.”

Maric was 15-of-17 at the line, helping Nebraska build a 16-point advantage in free throws.

Nebraska hit 31 of 36 free-throw attempts; Missouri made 15 of 21 free-throw tries.

“We’ve got to get some easy baskets and score at the free-throw line,” said Sadler, who repeatedly challenged his team to fight hard after Missouri opened a 20-10 lead midway through the first half.

The profanity-laced challenge worked, said Maric, who got a personal challenge from Sadler with just under four minutes remaining in the game.

“We’re at home in front of thousands of people,” he said. “We had an advantage. It was up to us to pull out the victory.”

The Huskers tied the game at 41 at intermission. The game was tied at 69 at the end of regulation.

Nebraska's Aleks Maric, left, collects a rebound against Missouri's Leo Lyons. Maric gathered 19 rebounds in Nebraska's 82-77 overtime victory against Missouri on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

No. 8 Texas A&M 97, Baylor 87

College Station, Texas – Acie Law scored a season-high 31 points, and Joseph Jones added 22 for the Aggies.

The win is A&M’s sixth straight over the Bears. It was Baylor’s 24th straight Big 12 Conference road loss.

Instead of relying on its normally stingy defense, A&M got into a shootout with the struggling, but scrappy, Bears.

No. 19 Texas 68, Oklahoma 58

Norman, Okla. – Kevin Durant matched his career high with five three-pointers and scored 32 points to lead Texas.

It was the seventh 30-point game of the season for the Longhorns’ sensational 6-foot-9 freshman and his first since he scored 32 in a 73-72 loss to Kansas State on Feb. 3. He also had 10 rebounds for his 17th double-double.

Texas Tech 59, Oklahoma State 57

Lubbock, Texas – Jarrius Jackson hit two free throws with 14.2 seconds remaining to lift Texas Tech.

The Cowboys had a chance, but Terrel Harris missed a three-pointer before Mario Boggan got the rebound and stepped back behind the arc but missed as time expired.