The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Gibson hits six 3-pointers in 80-73 win over Texas Tech
01.25.2005 | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Daniel Gibson scored 20 points, hitting all six of his 3-pointers, to lead No. 16 Texas to an 80-73 victory over Texas Tech on Tuesday night.
The Longhorns (15-4, 4-2 Big 12) went 14-of21 from 3-point range and made four in a row during one key stretch midway through the second half. It was the eighth game this season Texas has hit at least 10 3s.
Kenton Paulino added 16 points and Brad Buckman had 14 rebounds for Texas.
Ronald Ross scored 29 points and Devonne Giles added 18 for Texas Tech (11-5, 3-2), which came in as the Big 12's top-scoring team but shot just 37 percent against Texas' new zone defense.
Gibson and Paulino hit four 3-pointers in a 2-minute span of the second half that saw the Longhorns build the biggest lead of the game, 65-49.
Ross kept the Red Raiders from fading away, hitting six 3-pointers to pull Tech within 72-67 with just under 3 minutes left.
The game was a defensive battle before the fireworks started.
Texas, which has rarely used a zone, stayed in one the entire game in an effort to ease wear-and-tear on a depleted roster and avoid foul trouble.
Texas is down to just eight scholarship players after P.J. Tucker was declared academically ineligible last week and freshman LaMarcus Aldridge was sidelined indefinitely with a hip injury.
But neither was ever much of a 3-point threat when they were on the floor and were hardly missed once the Longhorns starting launching shots.
Texas' zone held the Red Raiders to 10-of-40 shooting in the first half.
Texas hit five 3-pointers in the first half but really was just getting started.
Gibson hit two early in the second, one from about 25 feet, and Buckman stepped out for another before Paulino finally found his range.
A 40 percent shooting team from long-range this season, seemingly couldn't miss once Gibson and Paulino cranked up their streak that built the big lead.
Postgame Quotes
Texas Head Coach, Rick Barnes
ON THE GAME: I knew we would have to work hard the whole game. We had so many turnovers the first half. It gave them more shooting opportunities. Our post guys were working hard and we were able to kick the ball out to get some open threes. I am proud of our guys. Our attitude is that someway somehow someone will pick up the slack and get things done.
ON COACH KNIGHT: He is one of the greatest coaches. I have so much respect for him and what he has done. The years he has put into the game and the longevity of his career should earn him respect. Fans can't cross the line. I want people to think our fans are first class. I know that Bobby would never allow fans to cross the line when we play them on the road.
ON DANIEL GIBSON: He is playing smart. He is getting a feel for what he needs to do. He is confident now. He has gotten smarter and the experience is helping him figure everything out.
Daniel Gibson, Freshman Guard
ON THREE-POINT SHOTS: I was happy to get such good shots. The crowd really got into it and we were having fun. Making those shots feels really good and it kept me smiling. The ball just felt good leaving my hand.
ON AN EIGHT-MAN ROTATION: Fatigue was not an issue. We have guys on our team that can play every position and sometimes they have to do that. Each player just goes out there and plays as hard as he can.
Brad Buckman, Junior Forward
ON ZONE DEFENSE: We knew they were a team that liked to attack and score. We just crowded the paint, disrupted their shots and our zone worked great. Sydmill Harris and Daniel Gibson helped out and we played it well, especially in the first half.
ON PERSEVERENCE: This game was a fight until the end and no one gave up. But, we just kept attacking and fighting to get the win.
Texas Tech head coach, Bob Knight
ON THE GAME: Texas did a good job of getting ahead and staying there the whole game. I thought our guys did a great job of not getting down and staying in the game. We were playing bucket for bucket but theirs were threes and ours were only twos.
ON TEXAS: I like their team, the way they play and they way they are coached. It is enjoyable to watch and play them. Texas is a good three point shooting team. I knew that about them before. It is really hard to beat a team that makes 14 threes.
Devonne Giles, Senior Forward
ON PLAYING TEXAS: They had great three-point shooting tonight. We learned that we need to cut the baseline off more. We just made a lot of mistakes on defense, and we need to get better at that.
Ronald Ross, Senior Guard
ON THE SCORE: We knew we had to come out here and play 40 minutes of basketball. Our mistakes caught up with us at the end and we could not catch up (with Texas). They are a good shooting team and it showed in the score.
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