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(AP) -- The Big 12 men's basketball tournament will remain in Kansas City through 2016.

The conference announced a two-year extension to its deal with the Sprint Center, which has hosted the event the past three yearsN and was scheduled to host the tournament through 2014.

There were questions about the future of the tournament with Missouri and Texas A&M in leaving for the Southeastern Conference next month.

 Some believed the tournament would move to Dallas or Oklahoma City to avoid playing in a state without a Big 12 member.

Still, the Sprint Center is a short drive from Kansas and centrally located for fans of Kansas State and Iowa State, which is why Kansas City has been a traditional host dating to the days of the old Big Eight.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)