The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
Aldridge's double-double leads Men's Basketball over Nebraska
02.11.2006 | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Kenton Paulino scored seven points in the game-changing burst in the second half that sent No. 6 Texas to a 78-59 victory over Nebraska on Saturday.
Paulino finished with 19 points, two short of his career high, as Texas (21-3, 9-1) maintained sole possession of first place in the Big 12.
Of Texas' six remaining regular-season opponents, only Kansas and Oklahoma have winning records in the Big 12 and both come to Austin. The Longhorns haven't won the conference since 1999, coach Rick Barnes' first season.
Jamel White scored 12 points for Nebraska (15-8, 5-5).
The Cornhuskers held P.J. Tucker, the Longhorns' leading scorer, to six points. Tucker had recorded three straight double-doubles but went scoreless in the first half and spent much of the second half on the bench in foul trouble.
For one half, it looked like the Cornhuskers could make a game of it.
Marcus Perry hit three 3-pointers as the teams traded the lead seven times over the final 7 minutes of the half. The Cornhuskers shot 50 percent, including 5-of-8 on 3-pointers, against the best defensive team in the Big 12. Aldridge scored 12 points as the Longhorns took a 38-35 halftime lead.
Tucker scored the first basket of the second with a short hook over two defenders but picked up his third foul 6 seconds later and went to the bench for the next 6 minutes. Three-pointers by Daniel Gibson and Paulino and two free throws by Aldridge pushed Texas' lead to 50-41.
That's when Paulino provided the extra punch that put the game away.
The senior guard drove around two Huskers for a baseline layup, then followed it with a steal and coasted in for another easy basket. After Nebraska coach Barry Collier was hit with a technical foul, Paulino hit a deep 3-pointer from the right wing, his fourth of the game, for a 58-41 lead with 12 minutes left.
Meanwhile, Aldridge kept ripping down rebounds and getting to the free throw line, where he went 9-of-13. After hitting five 3-pointers in the first half, the Huskers hit just one during Texas' game-breaking run.
Aldridge was just as good on defense, holding Huskers center Aleks Maric to two points in the second half.
Texas led 78-55 when Barnes pulled the starters with 3 minutes to play.
Nebraska quotes
Head Coach Barry Collier
On the game's rhythm: I thought Texas' rebounding really set the stage for them to take control of the game. We were able to make up a little ground at the end, but they were already up by 20 points by then. That offensive rebounding really put it away.
On LaMarcus Aldridge: Aldridge was great today. The guards played really well and were able to set up the big guys like Aldridge. He has great length. He is a good scorer down low and pursues the ball hard. He posted up well down low and we had to foul him a couple of times.
Texas quotes
Head Coach Rick Barnes
On Nebraska: I think Nebraska is a really good basketball team that's extremely well coached. They're going to play a certain way, and they made some shots.
On his team's defense in the first half: I don't think we were as aggressive as we were out front as we wanted to be to start the game. They got pretty much what they wanted in the first half.
On his team's defense in the second half: I thought we were a little more aggressive in the second half. I thought our man defense was good. I thought that was really good. Then when we got the lead we went to zone and made them make shots.
On Kenton Paulino: Buck refers to him as the fifth guy. I'm not sure he's the fifth guy. He runs the team, and he's going to get the ball where he needs to. If people let him shoot it, he can shoot it, but we have some different ways that we can score.
Senior guard Kenton Paulino
On how him playing the point has opened up the offense: It helps the team with Daniel playing off the ball. He can run around and get open looks. It has opened up our game a lot. I can get the ball to other guys and then slide to the open spots when everyone collapses on the ball. I get a lot more open looks.
Senior forward Brad Buckman
On him being a member of the 1,000-point club: It's a great honor. It's incredible. Only 25 other guys have been in it. There are not many other people that can say that, and I hope everybody else gets a chance to get in this club. I'm hoping to put up more points up though. I've been here for so long, I hope I can get something like that.
