The Kansas bench celebrates as the Jayhawks finish off the sixth-seeded Aggies. Kansas will face Texas Sunday in the Big 12 championship. This year will be the third straight year the two have advanced to face one another in the championship game.

Photo by Jon Goering
The Kansas bench celebrates as the Jayhawks finish off the sixth-seeded Aggies. Kansas will face Texas Sunday in the Big 12 championship. This year will be the third straight year the two have advanced to face one another in the championship game.

Senior forward Darnell Jackson goes up for a shot over Texas A&M forward Joseph Jones during the first half. Kansas outscored the Aggies 42-18 in the paint for the game. But the Aggies out-rebounded the Hawks 35 to 25, including 16 offensive rebounds.

Photo by Jon Goering
Senior forward Darnell Jackson goes up for a shot over Texas A&M forward Joseph Jones during the first half. Kansas outscored the Aggies 42-18 in the paint for the game. But the Aggies out-rebounded the Hawks 35 to 25, including 16 offensive rebounds.

Junior guard Brandon Rush goes up for a shot over Texas A&M forward Josh Carter.

Photo by Jon Goering
Junior guard Brandon Rush goes up for a shot over Texas A&M forward Josh Carter.

Junior guard Mario Chalmers sails in uncontested for a slam during the first half. Kansas scored 20 points off of 13 A&M turnovers compared to just 10 points off seven Kansas turnovers for the Aggies.

Photo by Jon Goering
Junior guard Mario Chalmers sails in uncontested for a slam during the first half. Kansas scored 20 points off of 13 A&M turnovers compared to just 10 points off seven Kansas turnovers for the Aggies.

Freshman center Cole Aldrich and senior center Sasha Kaun try to keep Texas A&M forward Bryan Davis from the rim during the second half. Davis led the Aggies with 16 points and seven rebounds, including one amazing three-pointer off the backboard in the second half.

Photo by Jon Goering
Freshman center Cole Aldrich and senior center Sasha Kaun try to keep Texas A&M forward Bryan Davis from the rim during the second half. Davis led the Aggies with 16 points and seven rebounds, including one amazing three-pointer off the backboard in the second half.

Kansas coach Bill Self gives a fist-bump to sophomore guard Sherron Collins while leaving the court after Kansas's 77-71 victory over Texas A&M Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas faces Texas Sunday in the Big 12 championship game.

Photo by Jon Goering
Kansas coach Bill Self gives a fist-bump to sophomore guard Sherron Collins while leaving the court after Kansas's 77-71 victory over Texas A&M Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas faces Texas Sunday in the Big 12 championship game.

Senior forward Darnell Jackson goes in for a basket during the second half. Jackson scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 27 minutes.

Photo by Jon Goering
Senior forward Darnell Jackson goes in for a basket during the second half. Jackson scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 27 minutes.

Texas A&M forward Joseph Jones tries to block the shot, and view, of junior guard Brandon Rush on a drive to the basket during the second half. Kansas outscored A&M 43-37 in the second half and defeated the Aggies 77-71.

Photo by Jon Goering
Texas A&M forward Joseph Jones tries to block the shot, and view, of junior guard Brandon Rush on a drive to the basket during the second half. Kansas outscored A&M 43-37 in the second half and defeated the Aggies 77-71.

Freshman center Cole Aldrich steps out to the perimeter to try and contain Aggie guard Donald Sloan. Aldrich played 10 minutes in the game, scoring six points on 3-for-4 shooting.

Photo by Jon Goering
Freshman center Cole Aldrich steps out to the perimeter to try and contain Aggie guard Donald Sloan. Aldrich played 10 minutes in the game, scoring six points on 3-for-4 shooting.

Texas A&M coach hangs his head for a moment during the first half. Kansas led by eight, it's largest lead of the half, with 4:31 to go until the break. But the Aggies came back and tied the score at 34 going in to the locker room.

Photo by Jon Goering
Texas A&M coach hangs his head for a moment during the first half. Kansas led by eight, it's largest lead of the half, with 4:31 to go until the break. But the Aggies came back and tied the score at 34 going in to the locker room.

Junior guard Mario Chalmers ducks under Texas A&M forward Chinemelu Elonu to get a reverse layup attempt off. Chalmers scored only four points in the game but had five assists, no turnovers and three steals. Kansas turned the ball over just seven times in the game.

Photo by Jon Goering
Junior guard Mario Chalmers ducks under Texas A&M forward Chinemelu Elonu to get a reverse layup attempt off. Chalmers scored only four points in the game but had five assists, no turnovers and three steals. Kansas turned the ball over just seven times in the game.

The Kansas bench cheers on junior guard Brandon Rush after he hit a shot and drew a foul. Kansas hit 54 percent of their shots from the floor and held the Aggies to 44 percent.

Photo by Jon Goering
The Kansas bench cheers on junior guard Brandon Rush after he hit a shot and drew a foul. Kansas hit 54 percent of their shots from the floor and held the Aggies to 44 percent.

Sophomore guard Sherron Collins tries to weave through the Aggie defense to get a shot up as time runs down in the first half. Collins played 30 minutes off the bench, scoring nine points and dishing out four assists.

Photo by Jon Goering
Sophomore guard Sherron Collins tries to weave through the Aggie defense to get a shot up as time runs down in the first half. Collins played 30 minutes off the bench, scoring nine points and dishing out four assists.

Senior forward Darnell Jackson and sophomore guard Sherron Collins congratulate junior guard Brandon Rush after he hit a shot and drew a foul in the second half. Rush's career-high 28 led the Jayhawks over the Aggies 77-71.

Photo by Jon Goering
Senior forward Darnell Jackson and sophomore guard Sherron Collins congratulate junior guard Brandon Rush after he hit a shot and drew a foul in the second half. Rush's career-high 28 led the Jayhawks over the Aggies 77-71.

Senior guard Russell Robinson takes the ball to the rim and scores to give Kansas a 75-71 lead with 28.9 seconds to go in the game. Kansas held off Texas A&M to advance to the finals of the tournament. The face Texas Sunday.

Photo by Jon Goering
Senior guard Russell Robinson takes the ball to the rim and scores to give Kansas a 75-71 lead with 28.9 seconds to go in the game. Kansas held off Texas A&M to advance to the finals of the tournament. The face Texas Sunday.

Junior guard Brandon Rush glides in for a dunk during the first half of the game. Rush finished with a career-high 28 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-8 from three-point range.

Photo by Jon Goering
Junior guard Brandon Rush glides in for a dunk during the first half of the game. Rush finished with a career-high 28 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-8 from three-point range.

A Kansas fan makes his way down the stairs at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. This year is the first year Kansas City has hosted the Big 12 tournament at the Sprint Center.

Photo by Jon Goering
A Kansas fan makes his way down the stairs at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. This year is the first year Kansas City has hosted the Big 12 tournament at the Sprint Center.

Two young Kansas fans have their picture taken before the start of the basketball game against Nebraska Friday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Photo by Jon Goering
Two young Kansas fans have their picture taken before the start of the basketball game against Nebraska Friday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.