Courtney Walker scored 25 points to power Texas A&M to an 84-65 victory over DePaul in a semifinal of the Lincoln Regional on Saturday. The Aggies (27-8) led by 14 points at halftime and turned back two DePaul runs. Courtney Williams had 14 of her 15 points in the second half.

SAN DIEGO – A year ago during the NCAA tournament, Gary Bell Jr. was battling several nagging injuries, including severe pain near the top of his foot that would later be diagnosed as a stress fracture. He went scoreless in the loss to Wichita State and barely played in the second half.

SAN DIEGO – There was an echo inside Viejas Arena, and it wasn’t just the endless sound of officials wearing out their whistles. Gonzaga jumped in front early and spent a good chunk of the rest of the game repelling challenge after challenge from Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs had their share of answers and an equal number of players supplying those answers in an 85-77 NCAA tournament win viewed by 11,196 Friday.

A year ago during the NCAA tournament, Gary Bell Jr. was battling several nagging injuries, including severe pain near the top of his foot that would later be diagnosed as a stress fracture.

Gonzaga opens their 16th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance defeating Oklahoma State, 85-77, in San Diego, Friday, March 21, 2014. Next up, the Zags face No. 1 seed Arizona on Sunday.

SAN DIEGO – Gary Bell Jr. knows what’s coming: 30-plus minutes of dealing with Oklahoma State standout guard Marcus Smart. Oklahoma State forward Kamari Murphy understands his assignment: Jostling with Przemek Karnowski, who is five inches taller and outweighs Murphy by some 70 pounds.

Gary Bell Jr. knows what’s coming: 30-plus minutes of dealing with Oklahoma State standout guard Marcus Smart.

Gonzaga and Oklahoma State practice the day before their NCAA second round game at San Diego State University, March 20, 2014.

They’ve played at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, KeyArena in Seattle, The Milk House in Orlando, McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane and Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. Gonzaga and Oklahoma State have squared off five times in five arenas in five cities, but the outcome has always been the same. GU is 5-0 against the Cowboys in the last decade, three of the outcomes decided in the closing seconds.

Gonzaga and Oklahoma State have squared off five times in five arenas in five cities, but the outcome has always been the same. GU is 5-0 against the Cowboys in the last decade, three of the outcomes decided in the closing seconds.

With rare exceptions, college basketball teams go through hot and cold stretches. Gonzaga experienced tumult in a Dec. 21 loss to Kansas State in Wichita when Sam Dower Jr. went down with a lower back injury and again a week later when Gary Bell Jr. suffered a broken hand against Santa Clara.