The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Southern
Men's Basketball tops Texas Southern, 90-50
11.28.2006 | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Kevin Durant scored 22 points and Texas cruised past overmatched Texas Southern 90-50 Tuesday night in a final tuneup before the Longhorns and their spunky freshmen get their first taste of Top 25 competition.
A.J. Abrams added 20 points for the Longhorns (5-1), who play No. 22 Gonzaga on Saturday in Phoenix.
Jacques Jones led Texas Southern (1-5) with 14 points.
Durant, one of the top freshmen in the country, has scored at least 20 in every game. He did just about anything he wanted against Texas Southern, scoring 15 points in just 11 minutes on the court in the first half. He opened the game with a 3-pointer and scored seven straight points in a 10-3 run that kick-started Texas to 60 points in the half.
Durant started the run with two free throws, hit another 3-pointer, then used his lanky 6-foot-9 frame to slash under the basket and finish a reverse layup.
Durant's third 3-pointer made it 38-14 and coach Rick Barnes went deep into his bench early in the game. Dexter Pittman, who weighs 303 pounds, scored six points in the half.
Abrams, shooting 55 percent on 3-pointers coming into the game, hit three in the first half, including one in the final seconds to make it 60-25.
Texas started four freshmen -- Durant, D.J. Augustin, Justin Mason and Damion James -- for the second straight game. James opened the second half with consecutive dunks.
The Longhorns have scored at least 90 points four times.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Kevin Durant scored 22 points and has scored at least 20 points in all six games on the season.
- A.J. Abrams reached the 20-point mark (20) for the fourth time in the first six games. He also has converted on at least three 3-pointers in all six games.
- The Longhorns have had at least two players hit the 20-point mark in a game four times this season, with the combination of A.J. Abrams and Kevin Durant accounting for all four occasions.
- Dexter Pittman recorded career highs for points (10), rebounds (6) and assists (1).
- Texas recorded a season high with 16 steals, besting the 14 against Alcorn State.
- Texas 60 points in the first half marked a high total for a half for the season. The Longhorns previous best was 56 points in the first half against Chicago State. It also marked the first time Texas has scored 60 points in a half since putting 61 on the board in the second half of their game against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 30, 2005.
- Texas has made at least 10 three-point field goals in four of their six games this season, including each of the last three.
- Texas average margin of victory in their four home games this season is 39.0.
- D.J. Augustin had six assists in the win. He has recorded at least six assists in all six contests this season.
- Texas had three players with double digits in the scoring column in the first half, including Kevin Durant (15), A.J. Abrams (15) and D.J. Augustin (10).
- Texas has posted a 63-4 record at the Erwin Center over the last five seasons.
- A.J. Abrams recorded a career-high for steals for the second consecutive game with his five against Texas Southern. In UT's win over Nicholls State, Abrams logged five steals.
- A.J. Abrams scored 10 of his 15 first half points in the final 3:42 of the stanza.
- All 12 Longhorns recorded at least one point and at least one rebound.
- The seven freshmen combined to log 62 of the 90 points (68.9%), 29 of the 42 rebounds (69.0%) and 12 of the 16 assists (75.0%).
TEXAS SOUTHERN QUOTES
Ronnie Courtney, Head Coach
On tonight's play: There is no question that we were out-manned tonight. Texas just had too much tonight. They had too much scoring, too much firepower, too much of about everything tonight. Hopefully, we learned something tonight from this type of game, even though we were not as competitive as I thought we would be.
On expecting Texas to be this quick and good: When they have that type of publicity coming out of high school and you have a coach as good as Rick Barnes, you have to have a tendency that these kids will come around more quickly. They have matured and come around really quickly.
TEXAS QUOTES
Rick Barnes, Head Coach
On Dexter Pittman: He went to our shoot-around and he did another 45 minute individual workout after that. Then he got ready to play the game and went out there and he's continuing to go out there and work. He really wants to be a good basketball player. Obviously he's got great hands and light feet. He knows he's still carrying extra weight that he's trying to get off, but he'll keep on his routine until January.
On Dexter playing against LSU: We need to keep putting him out there. He makes some mistakes, but he's learning for the first time to go from one play to the next play to the next play. I'm not sure everybody appreciates what he's done, but if you're not sure, walk through the weight room and pick up a 75-lb. dumb bell and that's what he's done in 4 or 5 months. Then pick up another 40 and that's what needs to get done.
On working on new things, A.J. passing up threes: I think the chemistry is getting to the point where they want to try to get the ball inside and give a chance to those guys that haven't gotten to play. They know that Dexter has worked hard. It's just guys looking out for guys. We put a couple different zone combinations out there. Kevin played for the first time tonight on the top of the zone and he did a really good job, but because we had some lineups out there that we haven't used.
Dexter Pittman, Freshman Forward
On adjusting to the speed of the college game: I am getting used to the game. When I get out there, my mindset is to beat my man down the court both offensively and defensively. I am trying to go as long as I can, Coach told me he will take me out when I get tired.
On how he thinks he is playing: I still have a lot more to work on. Coach [Barnes] and I were talking about it and he said that I looked good, but I'm not satisfied yet.
A.J. Abrams, Sophomore Guard
On passing up open shots: In these kinds of games you find things you need to work on. We were working on feeding the post. I will be able to get shots in other games, it was important to get the ball into the post.
On D.J. Augustin: He takes a lot of pressure off of all of us with his ability to penetrate and pass the ball. He opens us up for shots. He does a great job of moving the ball around.
