DALLAS (Ticker) -- Hollis Price caused more anguish for Bob Knight.
Price scored four of his 26 points in overtime as sixth-ranked Oklahoma moved into the championship game of the Big 12 Conference tournament for the fourth straight year with a 67-60 victory over Texas Tech.
Texas Tech (18-12) lost all three meetings with Oklahoma this season, including a controversial 69-64 overtime defeat on January 20. Price went the length of the court for a runner that forced the extra session, although it later was revealed that the clock did not start on time.
"It's not easy beating a good team three times," Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. "Look what happened to Kansas and Texas in this tournament. We knew that this was going to be a dogfight. When you're competing, you've got a chance to win."
Knight has complained loudly throughout the season that the Sooners should have forfeited the game - even though it took place nearly two months ago. It has caused an apparent rift between Knight and Sampson, and the two barely acknowledged each other as they shook hands after the game.
Price nailed a jumper to open the scoring in the extra session before Robert Tomaszek's follow shot tied it for Texas Tech. Ebi Ere nailed a 3-pointer with 3:38 to go, giving the Sooners the lead for good at 61-58.
"It's unusual for a kid like Price, as good as he is offensively, and then put in the same kind of intensity at the defensive end of the floor," Knight said. "He's a kid that you really have to admire the way he plays."
The margin was 61-60 when the Red Raiders lost the ball and Price scooped it up. He went in for a layup and a three-point lead with 58 seconds to go.
Texas Tech was held scoreless over the final 3:12.
"I don't know what to say," Tomaszek said. "We played as hard as we could, probably the way we should have the entire season."
Oklahoma (23-6) can win its third straight Big 12 tournament Sunday with a victory over Missouri. The Tigers handed the Sooners their worst loss of the season, 67-52, on February 26.
"Being the defending champs, its really important to us," Oklahoma guard Quannas White said. "We really want to win the Big 12 championship. Nothing is more important at this time."
Freshman Kevin Bookout scored on a follow shot with 3:09 left in regulation to give Oklahoma a 56-50 advantage. But the Sooners did not score for the rest of the half and Texas Tech took advantage.
Kasib Powell scored inside with 32 seconds to go to pull the Red Raiders within 56-54. Price was double-teamed in the corner and lost the ball out of bounds and Powell's layup with 21 seconds left tied the game.
Oklahoma held for one final shot, but Price was guarded closely by Powell and bobbled the ball before firing up a hurried 3-pointer that was fell short.
"I lost the ball," Price said. "I shouldn't have settled for the 3-point shot. I should have gotten to the goal and tried to make a closer shot than what I did."
Ere, playing with a broken bone in his non-shooting left hand, finished with 17 points and White netted 11. Bookout grabbed 10 rebounds as the Sooners held a 38-35 edge on the glass.
"When I dribble, it really hurts bad," Ere said. "I've got to put that aside. If I'm going to play, I'm going to play. So the pain (isn't) a factor. If it becomes a factor, I won't play."
The Sooners looked like the had a chance to blow out the Red Raiders after a vicious dunk by Jabahri Brown opened a 36-26 lead with 36 seconds left in the first half. Price's two free throws made it 38-26 at halftime.
Andre Emmett scored 19 points and Powell finished with 18 for Texas Tech, which lost in the semifinals for the second straight year. The duo combined for 22 of the Red Raiders' 26 points in the first half.
"To be really good, you've got to have six or seven players that can play against everything and we don't have that now," Knight said.
With losses by Kansas and Texas, Oklahoma could possibly earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a victory on Sunday. The Sooners were denied a top seed last season despite beating Kansas in the Big 12 title game.
Texas Tech is hoping the selection committee overlooks its 6-10 mark in the Big 12. The Red Raiders can boast of wins over Texas, Oklahoma State and Minnesota.
"If I had a vote, I'd tell you what my vote is, but I don't have a vote," Knight said. "We've worked like (heck). We've done pretty well in some cases and not so well in others. We'll just see what happens."