The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
Men's Basketball cruises past Oklahoma State, 99-74
02.10.2009 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2009
Box Score 
| Box Score | 
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A.J. Abrams scored 20 points and Texas snapped out of a three-game losing streak with a 99-74 win over Oklahoma State on Tuesday night.
The Longhorns set a season high in points scored. Five Longhorns scored in double figures. Damion James finished with 19 points and Connor Atchley chipped in 14. Dogus Balbay got his first start at point guard and finished with seven assists.
Texas (16-7, 5-4 Big 12) had lost its previous three games by a total of 11 points with the first going to overtime and the other two being decided on baskets in the final seconds.
Against the Cowboys, the Longhorns shot 64 percent in the first half and raced to an early 20-point lead before stretching it as high as 30 in the second.
James Anderson scored 35 points to lead Oklahoma State (14-9, 3-6), which has lost four of its last five.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Texas is 148-20 (.881) at the Erwin Center in the Rick Barnes era, including 72-13 (.847) in Big 12 play
- Set a season scoring high with 99 points (previous: 88 vs. Texas Southern, Dec. 16). It was reached with 7:54 remaining in the game. The 99 points are the most since 102 on Nov. 23, 2007 vs. New Mexico State.
- Matched its season scoring high in Big 12 games at 81 points with 9:59 remaining in the game
- Set a season high in FG percentage at 56.9 (previous: 55.9 vs. Texas Southern, Dec. 16)
- Had five players reach double-figures in scoring for the third time this season (3-0) and the first in Big 12 play
- Set a season high with 19 assists (previous: 18 vs. Texas Southern)
- The 22-point margin of victory equals a Big 12 season high (at Texas Tech) and the 32-point second-half lead is UT's largest in Big 12 play this season
- Outrebounded an opponent for the 18th time in 23 games this season
- Set a season high in first-half scoring with 52 points (previous: 42 vs. Tulane, Nov. 18)
- In the first half, set a season high in FG percentage in any half at 63.3 percent (previous: 62.5 percent, second half vs. Stetson and second half vs. Texas Southern; previous first-half high was 56.0 against Rice)
- Texas' 19 first-half FGs made match the total from the team's previous game at Nebraska
- Had nine assists on the team's first 10 baskets, they came in the first eight-plus minutes of the game, surpassing the previous game's total of eight assists at Nebraska
A.J. Abrams
- Moved to 12th on the all-time Big 12 scoring list with 1,774 points, passing Arthur Johnson (1,759, Missouri, 2001-04)
- Played in his 132nd career game, which passes Jason Klotz (131 - 2001-05) for fifth place on the UT career list
- Increased his Big 12 career record for 3-point field goals to 353
- Reached 20 points for the ninth time this season and the 32nd time in his career
- Scored in double figures for the 17th time this season and the 85th time in his career
- Made at least four 3-pointers for the 10th time this season
Connor Atchley
- Matched his season high with 14 points (previous: vs. Stetson, Nov. 14)
- Reached double-figures in scoring for the first time since Nov. 30 vs. Rice, it was the fourth time this season and the 22nd time in 124 career games
- Hit two 3-pointers in a game for the first time since Dec. 20 vs. Michigan State; he had two made threes total in eight previous conference games
- Texas is 22-0 when Atchley scores in double-figures
- Matched his season high with four made FTs (previous: twice)
Dogus Balbay
- Made his first career start, scored the game's first points and notched four assists in the first eight-plus minutes
- Set a career high with 10 points (previous: 8, twice) and matched it by halftime
- Set a career high with five made FGs (previous: 4, at Oklahoma, Jan. 12, 2009)
- Set a career high with seven assists (previous: 6, at Oklahoma, Jan. 12, 2009)
- Set a career high with 33 minutes (previous: 31, at Baylor, Jan. 27, 2009)
- Had a 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio
Damion James
- Moved to 24th on the all-time UT career scoring list with 1,118 points, passing Brad Buckman (1,102, 2003-06)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 21st time this season and the 59th time in his career
- Set a season high with four assists (previous: three vs. St. Joseph's, Nov. 18)
Gary Johnson
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 15th time this season and the 19th time in 45 career games
Justin Mason
- Registered at least six assists for the 11th time this season
- Has totaled 24 assists in the last four games
- Recorded three assists on the Longhorns' first five baskets and three rebounds all in the first four minutes of the game
- Had a season-high six made free throws
TEXAS QUOTES
HEAD COACH Rick Barnes
On tonight's game: I like it better than what we've been doing. We definitely came out looking to attack and it wasn't just one guy. We were really trying to be aggressive and if you look at the fact that we had only seven turnovers compared to their 17, that is a big difference in the game. We took good shots and took care of the ball. Everyone is happy for Connor [Atchley], but I thought Damion really did a good job settling down and gave us a great overall game. Defensively, they had two players that we had our hands full trying to guard, but some of that comes from the fact that we were trying to defend the three-point line which opened up the middle and Byron [Eaton] did a good job exploiting it. Overall, everyone I thought, their demeanor, the way they came out and worked the game, was good.
On moving Dogus Balbay into the starting lineup: It's been a long time since we shot the ball well. We came out and moved the ball. We shared the ball. There is no doubt Dogus moving into the starting lineup makes it easier in terms of rotations. He really passes the ball, and defensively, he does a great job. He is a guy that sees the floor, he moves the ball and he can make shots.
On the team's shot selection: I thought the shots we took tonight were the shots we've talked about all year. When we get ourselves in those positions and get our feet set and be balanced, I think we have guys who can shoot the ball.
SENIOR GUARD A.J. Abrams On tonight's game: I think we came out there and executed our game plan. We played the full 40 minutes and Connor [Atchley] got going and that's what we needed from him. We dug ourselves in a hole losing three in a row and now we're trying our best to climb back. It was about time for us to start playing better. That means playing hard, getting loose balls, being totally in tune in the game and playing for the full 40 minutes.
On having a balanced offense: When Connor's making shots and we're getting inside points from Gary [Johnson] and Dexter [Pittman], it takes a lot off my shoulders. Dogus did a great job bringing the ball down and it created a lot of opportunities for everybody. It made the game a lot easier.
On Dogus Balbay: He brings a spark because we see that he is playing hard and trying to do the right thing and we can play off that.
SENIOR FORWARD Connor Atchley On starting the game on the bench for the first time this season: We were trying to get something new going. The main objective was staying focused and making sure that when they call your name, you're ready to play.
On getting his offense back: I think it is just getting my body back right and feeling better. I want to come to play well. I'm just finally getting some open shots.
SOPHOMORE GUARD Dogus Balbay On his role as the starting point guard tonight: It was the same stuff we talk about--pushing the ball hard, getting in the paint and trying to create some open shots for the guys. I was just trying to do what I was told, and I think we did a great job knocking down the shots.
OKLAHOMA STATE QUOTES
HEAD COACH TRAVIS FORD
Opening statement: I thought Texas played like a team that was a little upset. They came out and really showed it on both ends of the court. I thought they played very well on both ends of the court, Texas did. They got after us defensively; they got us on our heels several times. They played really, really good, one of the better games I've seen them play. Those guys made shots, they played extremely hard, they played with a sense of urgency and we didn't.
On Texas PG Dogus Balbay: He did what we knew he could do. We knew he wasn't a great outside shooter but we did show our guys several clips that showed he can get in that lane. He was a little more aggressive offensively than I probably anticipated. I thought he was the difference in the game, not just scoring but he just energized his team. He gave them great confidence every possession. You look at his stat line, a very impressive stat line, 33 minutes, 10 points, seven assists, one turnover. That's what you want out of your point guard. He was the difference in the game, I thought.
On James Anderson's performance: He competed. I thought he was a little more aggressive tonight. He shot the ball, he drove it, he made some free throws. It was good to see him step up and play that way. He's more than capable of doing that. He was just more aggressive tonight.
SENIOR GUARD BYRON EATON
On Texas' offensive performance: I definitely think those guys came out and did a great job. Coach told us they were on a three-game losing streak and they were on the verge of losing three straight at home. They just came out and shot the ball great. A.J. (Abrams) came out and hit some shots and his team fed off his energy. Those guys did a terrific job.
On what allowed Texas to score 99 points: We had some defensive breakdowns. I had two breakdowns on Abrams, when he hit a three and when he hit a two-pointer. We just had some defensive breakdowns. I just want to congratulate those guys and wish them good luck on the rest of the season.
SOPHOMORE GUARD JAMES ANDERSON
On what allowed him to score 35 points: They were trying to pressure me and deny me hard and deny the wings. It was kind of tough to pass the ball. They were all up on me so I had no other choice but to drive. They forced me to drive, I took the drives and got to the basket and got to the line.
On reaching a career high in points in a losing effort: I just did everything I could to help the team. We were kind of struggling on the offensive end because they were denying the lanes. I wish we would have gotten the win. Everything just didn't go our way. We did everything we could. We just kind of slacked in different spurts on defense.
