The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Saint Joseph's
Men's Basketball defeats Saint Joseph's, 68-50, at EA Sports Maui Invitational
11.24.2008 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2008
Box Score 
| Box Score | 
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) -- A.J. Abrams had 17 points and No. 6 Texas turned in another strong defensive effort in a 68-50 victory over Saint Joseph's on Monday in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
The Longhorns (3-0) will meet the winner of the game between No. 8 Notre Dame and Indiana in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Abrams was 4-for-7 from 3-point range, keeping his hot start from beyond the arc as he was 8-for-17 in Texas' first two games.
The Longhorns had allowed 44.5 points and 28.7 percent field goal shooting while forcing an average of 22 turnovers in their first two wins. No. 3 looked very familiar.
Ahmad Nivins had 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Hawks (1-2), who finished 17-for-58 from the field (29.3 percent), including 4-for-21 from 3-point range, and turned it over 18 times.
Saint Joseph's used a 6-2 run to close the first half to get within 37-28, but Damion James had seven points in TEXAS' 11-2 run to start the second half. Saint Joseph's missed three of its first four shots in the half and had three turnovers in the opening 1:40.
The Hawks scored seven straight points to make it 48-37, but they came up empty on their next eight possessions and Texas had its first 20-point lead, 57-37 on a layup by Gary Johnson with 8:55 to play.
James and Johnson both had 14 points for TEXAS. Johnson led the Longhorns with 10 rebounds.
Darrin Govens added 12 points for the Hawks.
This is the Longhorns' third appearance in Maui with their best finish a third in 2004.
The win gave coach Rick Barnes a 250-93 record in 11 seasons at Texas and he is 452-227 overall.
Shane Victorino of the World Series champion Phillies presented the game ball to officials. The native of Maui, who was home for a charity golf event, received quite a cheer from the fans from Saint Joseph's, which is located in Philadelphia.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Texas has not trailed in 120 minutes of action this season
- Texas has held opponents under 35% FG shooting in all six halves this season
- Texas held its opponent to 25% or lower 3-pt FG shooting for the third consecutive game
- Texas held its opponent under 30% FG shooting for the second time in three games
- Rick Barnes picked up his 250th victory at Texas
- Started the season three consecutive wins for the second consecutive year
- Texas is 154-14 in the Coach Barnes era when holding its opponent under 40% FG shooting
- Texas made a 3-point field goal for the 586th consecutive game
- Texas improved to 5-2 all-time at the Maui Invitational, including 2-1 in the opening round
- Texas improved to 4-0 all-time against Saint Joseph's
A.J. Abrams
- Scored 10 or more points for the third time this season and the 71st time in 112 career games
- Moved to within 14 points of 13th place on the UT all-time scoring list with 1,442 points, trailing Gabe Muoneke (1,456)
Dogus Balbay
- Logged a career-high two blocks, his first career blocks
Damion James
- Scored 10 or more points for the third time this season and the 41st time in 76 career games
Gary Johnson
- Scored 10 or more points for the second time this season and the sixth time in 25 career games
- Logged his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds
- Logged a career-high 10 rebounds. He had previously notched nine rebounds on two separate occasions
Dexter Pittman
- Logged a career-high two steals, previously notching one steal on nine occasions
Alexis Wangmene
- Equaled a career-high with eight points, previously notching eight points on two separate occasions
- Logged a season-high with seven rebounds, one shy of his career high eight
Varez Ward
- Logged a career-high four assists, previously notching one assist against Stetson
