David Loubeau scored Texas A&M's first eight points and got the Aggies off to a quick start en route to an 86-71 victory over Missouri Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament.
Loubeau and B.J. Holmes combined for 31 points in a first half that ended with A&M leading 46-33 over a team it squeaked past 91-89 in overtime on Jan. 15. They each finished with 20.
The Tigers (23-10), who have lost eight in a row to A&M, will nervously await Sunday's announcement by the NCAA tournament selection committee. Ranked as high as ninth earlier this season, they've dropped three of their last four and fallen completely out of the poll.
In Friday night's semifinals, the third-seeded Aggies (24-7) will hook up with ancient enemy and second-seeded Texas in the 220th game between the two, the most-played rivalry in Texas A&M history.
