The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Wisconsin
Men's Basketball edged by Wisconsin, 67-66
12.29.2007 | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Wisconsin's Michael Flowers hit a long 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play, then stole Texas' inbounds pass and tossed it high in the air to run out the clock, lifting the Badgers to a 67-66 upset of No. 9 Texas on Saturday.
Texas led 66-64 after A.J. Abrams hit one of two free throws with 11 seconds left. His miss gave the Badgers a last chance and Flowers' long shot from the right wing stunned the home crowd. He then tipped Texas' inbounds pass near the baseline, grabbed it and threw it up with 1 second left as he tumbled into the stands.
By the time it came down, the game was over and the Badgers (10-2) had their first win of the season over a ranked team.
Brian Butch scored 21 to lead Wisconsin, which played without leading scorer Trevon Hughes, who was on the bench with crutches and a boot on his right leg.
Damion James scored 21 and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Longhorns (11-2), who have lost two in a row after their best start since the 1981-82 season.
Abrams had 17 and scored the Longhorns' final three points, but missed the first of two free throws -- his only trip to the line -- that would have given Texas a 3-point lead before Flowers' final shot.
Just like in its loss to No. 7 Michigan State, Texas struggled with Wisconsin's size and muscle. The Badgers outscored Texas 36-28 in the paint and held Texas to just 14 offensive rebounds. The Longhorns also struggled shooting free throws, going 6-for-12 from the line with several key misses in the final minutes.
Forced into a slow halfcourt game in the first half, Texas spurred a much quicker pace to open the second, running the floor in transition for two quick baskets. D.J. Augustin and Abrams hit 3-pointers that opened up a 45-37 Texas lead.
Wisconsin steadily shaved Texas' lead and went up 52-51 on Butch's first basket of the second half, a short turnaround jumper with just over 7 minutes left.
With James grabbing rebound after rebound, Texas seemed ready to make the run to put the game away when he passed to Augustin for a layup that put Texas up 61-56.
The final frenzy was just getting started.
Butch scored four straight points to give the Badgers a 62-61 lead before Augustin drove for a layup to put Texas up by one. After Butch missed the first of a 1-and-1 from the line, Abrams hit a 10-footer to make it 65-62 with a minute to play.
Before the game, Texas announced that freshman forward Gary Johnson has been cleared to play next Wednesday against TCU. Johnson has been allowed to practice but has been held out of games this season as doctors monitored an unspecified heart condition.
University officials released no other details on Johnson's condition or what problem kept him out of the lineup through the first 13 games.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Texas trails Wisconsin 4-1 in the all-time series
- Texas lost for just the fourth time in their last 71 home games against unranked opponents
- Texas lost for just the third time in their last 64 non-conference home games
- Texas lost back-to-back non-conference games for the first time since falling to Duke and Tennesee in December of 2005
A.J. Abrams
- Made a three-point field goal for the 51st consecutive game
- Scored 10 or more points for the 50th time in 85 career games, including 41 of the last 48
- Moved into fourth place on UT's career 3-point field goals made list with 210, tying Brandy Perryman (210 - 1995-98)
Connor Atchley
- Logged nine blocked shots over the last three games, the best three-game total of his career
D.J. Augustin
- Scored 10 or more points for the 12th time in 2007-08 and the 37th time in 48 career games
- Logged eight or more assists for the fifth time in 2007-08 and the 15th time in his career
Damion James
- Logged a double-double for the sixth time in 2007-08 and 10th time in 48 career games
- Logged a double-double for the sixth time in the last eight games, averaging 14.9 ppg and 12.6 rpg during the stretch
- Scored 10 or more points for the eighth time in 2007-08 and the 20th time in his career
- Scored 20 or more points for the first time in 2007-08 and the second time in his career
- Was one point shy of his career-high 22 against Texas A&M on February 28, 2007
- Posted a career-high with 10 field goals. His previous best was nine earlier this season against UCLA
- Logged 10 or more rebounds for the eighth time in 2007-08 and the 18th time in his career
- Logged 10 or more rebounds for the seventh time in the last eight games, averaging 12.6 rpg over the span
TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Rick Barnes
On the play of Wisconsin: They rose up and made the shot. Thirteen offensive rebounds in the second half is going to get you beat. They shot 37 percent, if we had rebounded, the percentage could have been lower. Wisconsin didn't have a great day at the free throw line either, but we've got to do the same thing we've talked about, post defense and rebound. These last two games the thing that has hurt us the most is the points in the paint. We missed a bunch of shots down there early. They have good size, they're a good basketball team, and they don't need any help. When you give up that many offensive rebounds, you're helping them a lot.
On Gary Johnson being cleared to play: We're excited about Gary. He's going to have to play himself into condition, but we know he's going to play hard, and he's going to play aggressive. Gary will give us some confidence around the rim, but he will have to learn to play without foul trouble. I also think this time of year is going to be a very important time for Dexter and him gaining some consistency. Clint and Alexis are going to have to change because I'm not changing. They're going to have to do things we ask of them consistently, and if they don't, then they won't play.
SOPHOMORE FORWARD Damion James
On Wisconsin's offensive rebounding: A big part of the game plan was keeping them off the offensive glass. We did so-so the first half and in the second half, they really came out and pounded the offensive glass. It comes down to being more physical and box out, and we didn't do that.
On Gary Johnson being cleared to play: Gary is a great player and he brings toughness and rebounding which is one of the areas that we are lacking in. He is going to be a big help for us inside because he works hard, and he goes for the rebound. He doesn't allow his man to go around him and get the offensive rebound.
JUNIOR GUARD A.J. Abrams
On the close score: In any type of game like this you can't really say that you have the victory locked up at any time. We were on a run, and then they were on a run. We went out there and didn't execute our game plan like we wanted to. We didn't keep them off the glass. We played decent but we didn't play well enough to get the win.
On the team's free throw shooting woes: When the first free throw didn't go in, it kind of shocked me, but that is how the ball bounces sometime, and when that happens you just have to live with it and move on. We have to go out and make our free throws; there is no excuse about that.
On the current playing condition of the team: I don't think we're playing as well as we're playing. On defense we're not playing like coach wants us to, and on offense we're getting stagnant at times. We try for the easy buckets. Everything that we're trying to do is fixable so there is a lot to work on.
SOPHOMORE GUARD D.J. Augustin
On suffering two losses in a row: We have to go to practice and work hard. We have to bounce back from these two losses. This will show our true character, how we come back from this situation and get ready for our next game. We have to keep playing hard.
WISCONSIN POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH BO RYAN
On the play of Brian Butch: Brian is a guy we can throw it back to, and he played a heck of a game and was involved. Early in the second half, there were some opportunities for him that didn't occur. He recovered from that early when they made that run and we had a few things to say to a couple of guys about toughness and taking care of the ball. You can only say so much and the players have to do it. After that point, Brian was fine.
On the final play of the game: I always say make sure you throw the ball in the air. They know they can't call timeouts anymore, so throwing it in the air and the ball not hitting anything sealed the deal for us.
On defending D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams: What would you like to do? Our guys picked it up and I thought they corralled Augustin and Abrams pretty well.
