The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Men's Basketball topples Texas Tech, 95-83
01.27.2010 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2010
Box Score 
| Box Score | 
| Notes | Quotes
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Leave it to the least likely players to score to give Texas the offensive punch it needed to end a two-game skid.
Justin Mason had 18 points and Dogus Balbay added 13, leading No. 6 Texas to a 95-83 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night after losses at Kansas State and Connecticut cost the Longhorns the nation's top ranking.
Between them, the guards usually counted on for defense, passing and rebounding - everything BUT scoring - went into the game averaging just more than seven points.
Opposing defenses had been sagging off both players all season to guard against Dexter Pittman and Damion James on the inside. Until Wednesday night, there was little reason to care if Mason and Balbay were left open.
"Tonight, I thought I'd be more aggressive," Mason said.
Both of them were.
Balbay took Texas' first shot and Mason took the third. They combined to shoot 13 of 20 from the floor while still handing out 12 of Texas' 15 assists.
"We were going to take the open shots. We talked about it before the game - we were going to attack," Balbay said.
Their scoring also opened up the floor for James, the offensive catalyst for Texas (18-2, 4-1 Big 12) all season.
James finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds to set the Big 12 record for career double-doubles with 48. He scored six straight points in the game-changing run midway through the second half.
Mason scored 13 in the first half on 6-of-8 shooting. Texas Tech (14-6, 2-4) gave him plenty of room to move and the senior quickly found his range with a 3-pointer, short jumper and drives to the basket. Balbay also showed off a seldom-seen shooting touch with a mid-range jumper.
"We backed off them to force them to make plays and they made plays," Texas Tech coach Pat Knight said. "They are two very good players."
Balbay also made the defensive play of the game when he recovered after a Texas turnover and blocked a fast-break dunk attempt by Texas Tech's Theron Jenkins late in the first half.
"No easy baskets," Balbay said.
Even with those two scoring, the Red Raiders built an early lead. Texas Tech made eight 3-pointers in the first half - the most Texas had allowed in a game all season - and led 50-42 when Nick Okorie hit from long range. Roberson made four 3-pointers in the half.
Texas cut the lead to 50-47 by halftime behind a 3-pointer by Jordan Hamilton and Pittman's tip at the buzzer.
In the second, the Texas defense pushed out to the perimeter and the Red Raiders attempted just one 3-pointer in the first nine minutes. Mason fed Balbay for a fast-break dunk. Balbay then sliced through the lane for a layup that put Texas up 64-60 with just over 13 minutes to play.
Texas finally created some separation behind James and a 3-pointer by Avery Bradley that put the Longhorns ahead 80-69.
James took over the scoring down the stretch, finding more and more space to move under the basket and grab rebounds. He broke the Big 12 double-doubles record he shared with former Texas All-American Chris Mihm (1998-2000).
"That don't mean nothing to me," James said. "It just feels good being on the winning side of the table. I'll let my mama talk about it. She'll brag about it to her friends."
After the two losses, the Longhorns had dismissed any notion their season was at a crossroads heading into the second half of the season. The win keeps Texas within a game of Big 12 leader Kansas.
"Coming into this game, nothing changed," Balbay said. "We still have the same game plan, still have the same intensity. We're going to play really hard, every day, every game."
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Improved to 12-0 at home against Texas Tech in the Rick Barnes era
- Improved to 99-11 (.900) against in-state foes during the Barnes era, including 22-3 against Texas Tech
- Improved to 160-20 (.889) at the Erwin Center during the Rick Barnes era, including 73-5 over the last five seasons
- Outrebounded Texas Tech 46-27, marking the 15th time in 20 games the Horns have outrebounded an opponent, including the ninth time by a double-digit margin
- Outshot Texas Tech 59.4-40.0% from the field in the second half
- Started with its best 20-game start since 1946-47 (19-1)
Dogus Balbay
- Scored a career-high 13 points, topping the 11 he scored at home against Texas Tech last season (2-25-09)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the second time this season and the fifth time in his career (54 games)
- Equaled a career-high with five field goals, matching the mark he reached on two prior occasions
Avery Bradley
- Reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the 13th time this season
Damion James
- Made his 126th career start, tying him with Royal Ivey (126 - 2001-04) for the school career record
- Played in his 128th consecutive game, tied with Justin Mason for third on UT's all-time list behind only Brian Boddicker (134 - 2001-04) and James Thomas (134 - 2001-04)
- Recorded a double-double (28 points, 13 rebounds) for the 11th time this season and the 48th time in his career (128 games)
- Passed former Longhorn Chris Mihm (1998-2000) with his 48th career double-double to break the Big 12 Conference record
- Scored 20 or more points for the 11th time this season and the 20th time in his career
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 17th time this season and the 86th time in his career
- Made a career-high 12 field goals, topping the 11 he made last season vs. Texas A&M (1-24-09)
Justin Mason
- Made his 121st career start, putting tying him with Terrence Rencher (121 - 1992-95) for third place on the UT list for career starts
- Played in his 128th consecutive game, tied with Damion James for third on UT's all-time list behind only Brian Boddicker (134 - 2001-04) and James Thomas (134 - 2001-04)
- Scored a season-high 18 points, topping the 10 points he scored against UT Pan American
- Reached double figures in scoring for the second time this season and the 30th time in his career (128 games)
- Equaled a career-high with eight field goals, tying the total he made against Oregon last season (11-26-08)
- Registered a season-high five assists, topping the four he amassed on two occasions
Dexter Pittman
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the 12th time this season and the 29th time in his career (120 games)
TEXAS QUOTES
Head Coach Rick Barnes
On Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason: We told both Dogus and Mason that they were going to need to shoot the ball tonight and they did. I think Dogus missed the first one that he shot, but he stayed with it. He missed some free throws, and he is really better than that.
On Texas Tech: When you look at Tech, I think that Pat (Knight) did an incredible job. They were down two players that are big to them, and they came in and were terrific in the first half. They cut us up and got what they wanted. We got better defensively in the second half. I think that for him to get his team ready to play and to do what they did, you really have to give him a lot of credit. They are a much-improved team. It was a good win.
On the team's gameplan tonight: Tonight we told everyone to shoot it if they got an open look because we were going to rebound it. We did a really good job of getting second-chance points tonight. We got 22 of them. We also did a great job of getting fouled, even though I would love to see us get a better percentage, we still made more than they attempted.
Senior guard Justin Mason
On attacking the basket: That's the game plan every night. We really just focused on remaining aggressive. It's something we have been working on all week.
On the changes made for tonight: It was just about letting the momentum loose and going out there to play today. I found the net on a couple of open jump shots, and I was just trying to find the rim a little more.
On his success tonight: It was about the offense overall. We had good ball movement, we were moving our team around the court well, and that made the difference tonight for me.
On being a leader on the court: I try to be a leader on the court, especially for some of the younger guys. But tonight we got down for a little bit, and I felt like I needed to step up. I feel like a large part of it is just doing my job well. If I do that I feel like my team has a chance to win.
Senior forward Damion James
On the 'swagger': We have to carry ourselves differently now. I think we lost two games and everyone thought a lot of things, but nothing changed about us. We are just not number one. We just have to carry ourselves well. And if we do that and play hard, then we are going to be great.
On tonight's game: I think if we play like we did tonight, we have a great chance of going all the way. What we did tonight was unbelievable.
On tonight's setting the Big 12 career double-double record: It really doesn't mean that much to me. I'm just happy because it means we are back on the winning side of things. Though I know my mama is going tell everybody she knows about it. But for me, I just want to win, and I am glad that we are.
Junior guard Dogus Balbay
On Justin Mason's Game: He is a great player and he stepped up big today. He is always great on defense, but he was especially good on offense tonight. He was aggressive and made his shots. He really helped us a lot tonight. If he keeps playing like that we won't have any problems.
On the game overall: I think we looked very strong today. We were moving the ball around well. It was a very physical game and Tech is definitely a great team. I think we played well as a team tonight and if we keep playing like we did, we will have great luck this season.
TEXAS TECH QUOTES
Head Coach Pat Knight
Opening statement: I enjoyed coaching these kids tonight. I hate to lose. There is nothing worse, but my guys competed. I told them I was proud of them. If we can give this kind of effort, there are still a lot of games for us to win. There is a lot of stuff that we have to clean up, especially from a defensive standpoint, but I cannot be upset with these kids. They gave me everything they have tonight.
On the play of Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason: We backed off of them just to force them to make plays, and they made plays. It is a gamble that you take. They are two very good players.
On the Longhorns overall: The whole team is very good. This is a special team. I felt bad for them losing two in a row. People start talking, but when this season is over that is just going to be a bump in the road for this team. You have a special team here. They are just loaded. This is a deep, very good basketball team.
