The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Aldridge nets 23 to lead No. 6 Men's Basketball past Baylor
02.14.2006 | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and No. 6 Texas coasted past Baylor 90-63 Tuesday night, continuing what has been an easy run through most of the Big 12 schedule.
P.J. Tucker scored 21 and Brad Buckman had 12 points and 11 boards for the Longhorns (22-3, 10-1 Big 12), who are off to their best start in conference play.
Aaron Bruce scored 15 to lead Baylor (2-9, 2-9), which has lost 17 in a row against Texas.
The Longhorns' have hardly been challenged at home in the Big 12 this season, winning six league games by an average of 25 points. Texas has a one-game lead over Kansas, with the Jayhawks coming to Austin on Feb. 25.
The last time Texas and Baylor met, Daniel Gibson scored a career-high 37 points in a 66-47 win, picking up the Longhorns with nine 3-pointers when they struggled to score inside.
He didn't need to do it again.
Tucker, Buckman and Aldridge scored almost at will near the basket as Texas built a 24-point lead by halftime. Tucker had 12 points by halftime after being held to just two points -- on his last shot in the final seconds -- in the first game against Baylor.
The Longhorns still hit from outside when they wanted. Gibson made his only 3-pointer of the half with the first shot of the game. Kenton Paulino hit two more and Buckman chipped in another as Texas raced to a 20-3 lead. The Longhorns tried only five 3-pointers in the half, hitting every one.
Tucker opened up the lane by drawing a third foul from Baylor's 7-foot freshman center Mamadou Diene, sending him to the bench. Buckman hit another 3-pointer and his dunk with 3:45 left in the half made it 35-17.
The Longhorns shot 53 percent in the first half and Buckman closed it with Texas' last two baskets, the second on a nifty pass underneath from A.J. Abrams in the final second.
Texas might have run into a problem when Buckman picked up his second and third fouls 30 seconds apart early in the second half and went to the bench.
But Aldridge quickly solved that by hitting a long turnaround jumper over Diene and Gibson hit another 3-pointer from the right corner. Diene, instrumental in containing Texas' big men in the previous meeting, fouled out with 13:30 to play.
Aldridge's soft alley-oop on a feed from Paulino made it 62-35 and Texas cruised the rest of the way.
Postgame Team Notes
- Texas is a perfect 17-0 against the Bears during the Rick Barnes era.
- UT now leads the all-time series between the two schools by a 148-75 margin.
- With the win against Baylor, Texas is 10-1 in the Big 12 for the first time since the league formed in 1996-97.
- The Horns have posted a 64-5 (.928) record against in-state foes during the Barnes era.
- The Longhorns have now hit a three-pointer in 500 consecutive games.
- Texas finished 8-of-14 from three-point range for a season high 57.1%. UT's previous high was 56.5% (13-23) against Baylor earlier this season.
- In two games against Baylor this season, UT has hit on 21-of-37 (.568) shots from beyond the three-point arc.
- UT has held 19 of its first 25 opponents below 40% FG shooting this year (19-0) record in those games).
- Texas has now posted at least a +10 rebound margin in 16 of its 25 contests.
- The 90 points against Baylor marked the most scored by UT in a Big 12 Conference outing this season.
Postgame Individual Notes
LaMarcus Aldridge
- Aldridge continues to be tops in the Big 12 Conference, recording his third consecutive and 13th double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
- The 23 points tied a career high and marked his eighth 20-point game of the season.
Brad Buckman
- Buckman recorded his third double-double of the season, 14th of his career, in the game with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
P.J. Tucker
- He finished the night with 21 points, his ninth 20-point performance of the season and his third in the last five games.
- Tucker tied a season high by making nine of his 13 attempts from the charity stripe.
Daniel Gibson
- Gibson for his career (four games) has shot 18-29 (.621) from beyond the three-point line against the Bears.
Postgame Quotes
Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew
General Comments: Well it was a good second half. The game was obviously decided in the first half. When you play against a great team like that, they can do two things- score inside or score outside. I credit them.
On comparing Texas and Oklahoma: Both have the common denominator of being good inside and out. Both can hurt you at either. They are also both very sound defensively. OU has the aggressive man to man and Texas can do both man and zone. Both are very good at rebounding as well. They are both teams you don't want to play on the road.
Baylor Sophomore Guard Aaron Bruce
On playing man defense: Well, last game we had seven or eight stops in a row and that was when we were playing man on man. We knew they'd go inside early with P.J. Tucker and LaMarcus Aldridge, two very skilled players. It is hard to keep them out.
On getting in the groove: Against great teams you can't give up. It's about trying to limit runs and that is what we tried to do. When you are down by 24 at halftime it is hard to come back against any team, let alone a nationally ranked team like Texas.
Baylor Freshman Guard Curtis Jerrells
On picking a game strategy: They have so many weapons at each position. We always have a game plan. They came out and played their tails off and I have to credit them to that.
On lack of scoring: It's about getting in the gym and putting up more shots. Sometimes you make them and sometimes you don't.
Texas Head Coach Rick Barnes
On the attitude of the players before the game: P.J and Buckman had really great attitudes before the game tonight. We know its February and we need to attack every game we can. The guys brought energy into the game and were very efficient moving the ball around. We did a good job sharing and going inside.
On this game versus the first one against Baylor: We just did a good job working the game tonight and we always try to play from the inside out. P.J. also continues to work hard and play in the areas he needs to.
Texas Junior Forward P.J. Tucker
On comparing this Baylor match-up to the previous game in Waco: There was definitely a change of events tonight. We know that it is near the end of Big 12 play and these games count for a lot. There is just one game that separates us and Kansas from the top spot. We really had to come in here with a killer mentality and finish strong.
On tonight's win: I have to give credit to Baylor, they fought really hard. But we had good board coverage and guys were making shots. We got some good looks. You always like to start a game with a big run because we know we have to come out strong to win games like this.
Texas Sophomore Forward LaMarcus Aldridge
On playing against Baylor's zone defense: We got our looks better tonight and worked harder. We didn't settle for being pushed off the lane. Against the zone, you can't stand around. You have to be ducking in and getting good screens. That's what we did tonight.
On staying out of foul trouble: I have been trying to be more disciplined. Coach told me that he needs me to be on the floor, so I have just tried to play smart on defense.
