The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jason Klotz: Collegiate career ends with career game
03.17.2005 | Men's Basketball
Jason Klotz played his final game in a Texas uniform on Thursday night. The Longhorns fell 61-57 to Nevada in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but Klotz certainly went out with a bang.
In what turned out to be his collegiate farewell, Klotz recorded a career-high 20 points. After struggling throughout the first half (just 2-of-10 from the floor), he returned to score 16 of those 20 points in the second half against the Wolf Pack.
"The game plan was to pound the ball inside," the Houston native said. "I tried to do that throughout the game. In the second half, I was feeling confident. Unfortunately, some of my shots in the first half and at the end didn't fall, but sometimes it just goes that way."
Klotz' 10-of-25 shooting marked career highs in field goals made and attempted for the senior. Klotz also stepped up on the defensive end, blocking three blocks and limiting WAC Player of the Year Nick Fazekas to just 10 points after Fazekas entered the game averaging more than 21 points per game.
"Defensively, we knew we had to limit him (Fazekas) and try to be physical," Klotz said. "They were playing one-on-one on offense and defense, so I tried to do my part on both ends."
Klotz finishes his career with more than 800 points (813), the only current Longhorn over that mark. Only Klotz's roommate, Brad Buckman, tops Klotz' rebound (504) and blocked shot (103) totals. After playing alongside Klotz for three seasons, Buckman will have more than just a teammate to miss.
"Jason has helped me so much in my first three years here," Buckman said. "He's been one of my biggest supporters. "I'm definitely going to miss him on the court and as a roommate next year."
