The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
New Mexico State
Men's Basketball advances with 79-67 win over New Mexico State
03.16.2007 | Men's Basketball
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Kevin Durant had reason to be nervous.
It was his first NCAA tournament game -- and possibly his last. At least that's how it looked until Texas took control against New Mexico State, thanks in part to their star freshman.
Durant had 27 points, including 11 of 12 free throws in the second half, and eight rebounds to lead fourth-seeded Texas to a 79-67 victory Friday night in the first round of the East Regional.
"Durant's a pro," said New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus, a former NBA All-Star guard, using the word no one in Texas wants to associate with Durant for at least another wondrous year in Austin.
"And pros know how to adjust. ... I will tell you from my own personal experience that when you're able to draw fouls, you will be a great scorer."
Even with a case of nerves.
Before Durant's seventh consecutive 25-point game, Wanda Pratt, called her son from Suitland, Md. She thought Kevin sounded unusually nervous. Even Texas coach Rick Barnes later he said he noticed his star was "jumpy."
But the 18-year-old freshman looked ever the cool veteran down the stretch.
Durant's long-armed tip-ins, smooth pivot moves, sudden pull-up jumpers and blocked shots had NBA scouts chuckling courtside. Even though he went the first 12 minutes of the second half without a field goal, he was effective from the foul line, finishing 15-of-16 overall.
Texas (25-9) made 25 of 26 of its free throws, with Durant's the only miss.
"Well, we expect him to make them all, you know," Barnes deadpanned.
Durant connected on two from the line after a rebound with 1:10 left to put Texas ahead 75-66 and essentially end the game.
Fellow freshman D.J. Augustin had 19 points and seven assists, and sophomore A.J. Abrams added 16 points for the Longhorns, who start four freshmen and have seven on their 12-man roster.
Texas will face Southern California -- a 77-60 winner over Arkansas -- in the second round Sunday.
Elijah Ingram had 16 points for 13th-seeded New Mexico State (25-9), which was making its first NCAA appearance since 1999 but still hasn't advanced past the first round since '93. Hatila Passos added 15 points and eight rebounds.
The Aggies rallied from 12 down with 16 minutes remaining to take a 58-57 lead with 7:10 left on two free throws by Jonathan Gibson, who had just airballed a wide-open 3.
But then Durant got into a team huddle on the floor, clapped twice and said "Let's go!"
The Longhorns responded with a 12-4 run that featured Durant making six straight free throws and stealing a pass near midcourt.
"Seemed like every time we had a run, there was a foul call," said Justin Hawkins, the Aggies' leading scorer. "And they kept making their free throws."
The game marked the return to the national stage for Theus, who in his first two years in Las Cruces, N.M., transformed the Aggies from a 6-24 disaster behind six transfers. The well-dressed former broadcaster and actor, whom his players jokingly call "Hollywood," lost some of the sideline glamour behind his all-black, subdued pinstripe suit, tie and shirt ensemble 4 minutes into the second half.
He received a key technical foul, after a second offensive foul call against his team in two possessions. During the ensuing timeout, Theus continually asked a referee, "Why don't we just stop playing?" When the official asked the former Chicago Bulls guard to quiet his complaining, Theus kept talking.
Abrams converted both technical free throws and Connor Atchley made his first 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put Texas ahead 45-33.
But New Mexico state would not go away. Behind Ingram's frantic play, the Aggies went on a 9-0 run to cut it to 53-52 with 9 1/2 minutes left. Durant didn't make his first field goal of the second half until 8 minutes remained. But that one kept Texas up by three.
The Aggies never could get Hawkins fully involved against the defense of Justin Mason. Hawkins didn't score his first basket of the second half until 3:11 remained. He finished with 11 points -- six below his average -- on just eight shots.
Texas spent most of the first half trailing the Aggies and their inside-outside offense. But Durant changed that.
First, he turned and pivoted past David Fisher for an acrobatic basket that got the Longhorns within two. Then he showed his versatility. He pulled up for a 16-foot jumper over Fisher to tie it. On the defensive end, he blocked a shot by Fisher into a Texas fast break. Abrams ended that with a 3-pointer and the Longhorns led 33-30 at halftime.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Texas has advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in five of the last six years.
- Texas is 13-4 (.765) in NCAA First Round contests since the field expanded to 64 in 1985.
- Texas is 29-27 (.519) all-time in 25 trips to the NCAA Tournament.
- Rick Barnes is 13-8 (.619) at Texas in the NCAA Tournament and is 15-14 (.517) overall.
- Texas leads the all-time series with New Mexico State, 2-1.
- Six Longhorns made their first NCAA Tournament appearance (Augustin, Durant, Hill, James, Mason, and Winder).
- Texas' .962 (25-26) free throw percentage is the third-highest single-game percentage in NCAA 1st and 2nd round history (1.000, twice).
- The .962 free throw percentage is a UT record in the NCAA Tournament. The previous high was .923 (12-13) against Purdue on Mar. 18, 1990. It is the third-best percentage
- The .962 free throw percentage is also a season high (.889, at Kansas, Mar. 3, 2007) and ranks third on the UT single-game list (since 1960-61).
- Texas is 19-2 when outshooting its opponent from the field this season.
- Texas had a player score at least 20 points for the 33rd time in 34 games this season.
- Texas has made at least one 3-pointer in 544 consecutive games.
A.J. Abrams
- Abrams' 16 points match his career high in the NCAA Tournament (16, vs. N.C. State, Mar. 19, 2006).
- Abrams has scored at least 16 points in each of his last six games (17.5 ppg).
- With three made three-point field goals, Abrams has 116 for the season, which is second on the Big 12 single-season list. The record is 118 by Clarence Gilbert of Missouri in 2001-02.
- Abrams has scored in double figures in 28-of-34 games this season. He has reached 15 points in 20 of those games.
- Abrams has made at least one 3-pointer in 37 consecutive games dating to last season.
- Abrams' three rebounds match a career postseason high.
- Abrams' three steals are a career postseason high.
Connor Atchley
- Atchley matched his career high with 28 minutes (vs. Chicago State, Nov. 10, 2006).
- Atchley recorded at least three blocks in a game for the sixth time this season.
- Atchley has blocked at least two shots in three of his last four games and has recorded at least one block in 26-of-34 contests this season.
- Atchley's seven points, six rebounds and three blocks were all career postseason highs.
- Atchley connected on the first postseason 3-pointer of his career.
D.J. Augustin
- Augustin has record at least six assists in 23-of-34 games.
- Augustin has scored in double figures in 25-of-34 games this season.
- Augustin has made at least one 3-pointer in 25-of-34 games this season.
Kevin Durant
- With eigth rebounds, Durant is now alone in second on the Big 12 single-season rebounds list with 381, passing Nick Collison of Kansas (380, 2002-03). The record is 423 by Drew Gooden of Kansas (2001-02).
- Durant topped the 20-point mark for the 29th time this season and has reached double figures in all 34 contests.
- Durant has hit 10 or more free throws in seven games this season.
- Durant set his career high in free throws made with 15 (13 vs. Baylor, Jan. 27, 2007) and attempted with 16 (15, Jan. 27, 2007). Those are also both individual highs for the team this season.
- Durant's .938 free throw percentage is the second-highest individual total for a game this season on the team (1.000, twice).
- Durant has recorded 18 blocks in his last seven games (2.6 bpg).
- With one block, Durant has a total of 65 this season, which ranks second on the UT freshman list (Chris Mihm, 90, 1997-98) and ties him for second on the Big 12 single-season freshman list (Arthur Johnson, Missouri, 2000-01).
- With three steals, Durant has a total of 65 this season, which is second on the UT freshman list (72, T.J. Ford, 2001-02) and puts him alone in fifth on the Big 12 single-season list.
Damion James
- James had his streak of games with at least one block snapped at 13.
