 "Photo: Sue Ogrocki")
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Longhorns are Sweet 16-bound, but not without a scare.
After keeping Miami in a double-digit deficit for most of the game, the Hurricanes rallied in the final four minutes on Sunday, cutting Texas' lead to just two points with two seconds left in the game before sending D.J. Augustin to the free-throw line.
Augustin shot an air ball on his first attempt but connected on his second to put Texas up by three points. On the ensuing inbounds play, the Hurricanes (23-11) were unable to get off a shot, turning the ball over and allowing the Longhorns to escape with a 75-72 victory in their second round game.
"I shot it a little short, but the second one I knocked down and we won," Augustin said. "That's all that matters."
The second-seeded Longhorns (30-6) led by 17 points midway through the second half and owned a 66-50 advantage with 4:15 remaining before the No. 7 seed Hurricanes came roaring back.
A.J. Abrams led the team offensively, scoring a postseason career-high 26 points for the second consecutive game while Damion James posted a double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds to go with three blocks.
"The last couple of minutes can't ruin a game for us," Abrams said. "At this point in the season, a win is a win."
The Longhorns' win means they travel to Houston for a contest against No. 3 seed Stanford on Friday where they expect a much warmer reception than the one they received in Arkansas.
Boos began raining down from the rafters long before any Texas players showed their faces to the partisan crowd in Alltel Arena because of comments Texas coach Rick Barnes made prior to the tournament about buying out of next season's game against the Razorbacks if the local fans didn't treat the team right.
The loudest taunts during the weekend were directed at Barnes, but nobody in burnt orange was off limits.
Following halftime of the opening game between No. 10 seed St. Mary's and Miami on Friday, the Texas band took its place to a chorus of loud boos from Arkansas locals, but it didn't seem to affect the Longhorns in their tournament opener.
Texas dominated Austin Peay by using a pair of early runs, cruising to a 74-54 victory.
The Longhorns exploited the Governors' dismal shooting start, rushing out to a 19-3 lead while Austin Peay connected on just one field goal during the fist 10 minutes of the game.
The gap grew to 20 points, 36-16, before Austin Peay (24-11) put together a small run of its own to go into halftime down 39-24.
The Governors' rally died in the locker room.
Texas pushed its lead to 61-34 early in the second half and never looked back.
One game later, the Longhorns can look forward at last.
"Everybody was against us here, so we want a lot of fans rooting for us in Houston," James said.
Abrams was on fire all weekend, hitting 17-of-29 shots, including 12 treys.
"I think we're playing pretty good, but you can always get better," Abrams said.
Sophomore Dexter Pittman finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double in his NCAA Tournament debut against Austin Peay.
James also recorded a double-double in the first round by scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while Justin Mason barely missed having a triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
After Sunday's victory, Barnes spoke about being harassed by fans all weekend.
"You expect it. This time of year, this tournament, people love to see the darker uniform win," Barnes said. "It's just the way it is."
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