The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Temple
Brown lifts Men's Basketball past Temple, 77-65
12.17.2011 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2011
Final Stats |
Box Score 
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- J'Covan Brown scored 23 points, and a strong second half propelled Texas past Temple 77-65 on Saturday for the Longhorns' seventh straight win.
The Longhorns trailed by as many as eight, but Texas (9-2) outrebounded Temple 48-23 and made 23 free throws to fuel the comeback.
Khalif Wyatt had 24 points and Ramone Moore scored 13 for the Owls (6-3), who led most of the first half and went ahead 18-10 on a Moore 3-pointer.
But an 8-2 run by Texas closed the gap. Brown hit a driving layup and then assisted Jonathan Holmes on a fast-break play for a 31-31 tie with 1:05 left in the half.
Wyatt converted a 3-pointer as time expired to give Temple a 34-31 halftime lead. The lead changed hands three more times before a layup by Myck Kabongo, who scored 18 points, put Texas ahead for good, 48-47, with 13:31 to play.
TEAM
- Texas improved to 3-2 in its series with Temple.
- Texas improved to 100-9 (.917) at the Erwin Center in the last seven seasons [dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season] and 190-24 (.888) at the Erwin Center under Rick Barnes.
- Texas has held its last seven opponents to an average of 53.6 points per game; its last seven opponents have shot 33.2% from the field (131-of-395), including a 42-of-133 (.316) from three-point range.
- Texas has won seven consecutive games, all by double figures.
- Texas outscored Temple 46-31 in the second half and outshot the Owls from the field in the second half, 55.6% to 37.5%
- Texas recorded a +25 rebound margin (48-23), including a 17-3 edge on the offensive glass.
- Texas enjoyed significant advantages over Temple in bench points (27-11), points in the paint (42-22) and second-chance points (21-4)
INDIVIDUAL
- Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the second time this season
- Has scored 30 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in the last two games
- Topped the 20-point mark (23 points) for the sixth time this year and 14th time in his career (80 games).
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 10th time this season and 43rd time in his career
- Set career highs in rebounds (13) and minutes (27)
- Had played 92 career games prior to Tuesday's Nicholls State game before reaching double digits in rebounding;
- Has collected 23 rebounds in the last two games (10 vs. Nicholls State, 13 vs. Temple)
- Tied his career high in scoring (18 points)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time this season
- Has posted a 40-to-16 assist-to-turnover ratio in his last six games
- Set a career high in rebounds (eight)
TEXAS COACH QUOTES
HEAD COACH Rick Barnes
On the changes made from the first half to the second half: In the first half, we looked like a team that hadn't even practiced. We had guys shooting three-pointers who shouldn't be shooting threes. The very first play of the game, we didn't execute. I told them at halftime that they (Temple) didn't do anything that we didn't share on tape and that they didn't practice. All you have to do is look at the first half. We knew that we were going to have to adjust a little bit because this is the first team that we have played all year that was going to switch (defensive) positions. They did that. Within our offense, we have things that they will counter with, but we can't counter that if we don't execute it. We can show them where they need to make those adjustments.
On Jaylen Bond having strong back-to-back performances: What he has done on the boards is exactly what he did when we started preseason practice this year. He got away from where he wasn't rebounding. He has a great knack for the ball. Defensively, he gives us a guy that when we play teams that play smaller, he can defend them. Jonathan Holmes has really worked on getting better, but tonight he was getting driven by on defense. Jaylen, the last two games, has started to do some really great things and that's what we needed from him.
On players having to learn new roles: We have shown a lot of things this year that we can do. I keep thinking that we have so much room to improve. It's amazing. In some ways you sit here and see where Alexis (Wangmene) played 12 minutes and Julien (Lewis) played 12 minutes and maybe it was good for those guys. They have to go out and be more effective. Julien (Lewis) can't get blown by (on defense). One thing he has to do is drive the ball to the basket. What will happen from a coach's standpoint is if we can get that production from Jaylen (Bond) and Chap [Clint Chapman], then we can start moving Jonathan Holmes out to the perimeter and get a little bigger. When guys start playing like that, you get excited as a coaching staff because you can really start having some fun with the lineups. There is not one guy on the team who hasn't had a moment. We just have to get consistent with it.
On J'Covan Brown: We need him. There is no doubt it. He does a great job of reading defenses. That action where he gets it there, he has about three or four things that he can do. He had his shot blocked because he went up as if he wasn't going to be guarded, and he is going to be guarded. That is where he is going to have to play quicker. The thing about J'Covan is he has to get to the free throw line more. The more he dribbles, the more that the defense is coming to make plays. He is going to have to play quicker.
TEXAS PLAYER QUOTES
JUNIOR GUARD J'Covan Brown
On being more vocal on the court in today's game: [I've] just got to keep being vocal out there. When they hear my voice, they react to it. I usually am quiet and I need to get away from that and get out of my comfort zone and start talking. I point out things I see that maybe some of teammates don't see.
On offensive adjustments in the first half: We had to adjust. We're not used to teams switching everything on us. So, we just had to find our angles. [Clint] Chapman and Jaylen [Bond] and Jonathan [Holmes], they found me cutting to the rim. We've just got to get used to it. When it gets to conference play, this is when everybody starts switching on us. We just need to find angles.
On Myck Kabongo's play today: Myck is going to be Myck. His job is to run this team, and he has to get us going. He gets us moving. We all feed off of his energy. It's great to have a guy like that in the backcourt.
SENIOR CENTER Clint Chapman
On his performance today: Obviously, me and Jaylen [Bond], we came off of a good night a couple of days ago. I think that once you get rolling like that you've got to keep it going. I think it starts every day in practice where we're all competing to rebound and things like that. I'm just starting to get a little more aggressive and just trying to keep rolling.
On his double-figure rebounding performances: I've been here for a while and I think what I want most is to help this team win. When I rebound the ball and set screens, it helps my teammates get better and it helps us play better. I really just want to do my job and help this team win.
FRESHMAN FORWARD Jaylen Bond
On his knack for offensive rebounding: I have good timing on rebounds. I try to anticipate when it (the ball) comes off of a guy's hand and try to play to my angles for the rebound. I think that helps me out a lot.
On playing a nationally-televised game: I try not to pay too much attention about it being [on] national [television]. I just tried to play hard and help my team win like we did tonight.
On his progress this season: I have become more confident in my offensive game and my defensive effort. I'm just able to help my team more at this point in the season.
TEMPLE QUOTES
HEAD COACH FRAN DUNPHY
Opening statement: I thought Texas was terrific in the second half. We got off a little bit by trying to rush something, which we cannot do with a program like this. I thought we did a very good job in the first half with keeping our poise and concentration, something we did not do in the second half. In the second half we did not do nearly as good of a job as we needed to. I see Texas getting better and better by every game.
On his expectations of Texas going into the game: I have such great respect for Rick Barnes and the type of program that he has. These freshmen are in their own in just their 11th game. They are not as green as they were in their first and second games. They are getting better and better. I watched them on film. Texas has a kid like (J'Covan) Brown, who is not a freshman but is a seasoned junior who knows what to do. I though Texas was great at that point and I think their freshmen are going to be terrific players. This is not a normal group of freshmen. This is a seasoned group of young guys.
On Texas' ability to rebound: They hurt me there. We did not do a very good job. Obviously, we were a little bit outsized but that is not nearly the excuse we need. We were just not as tough or aggressive as they were. I know Jaylen Bond very well. You could just see him and feel him understanding how to get to the rim on missed shots. He has got that knack and size and strength for rebounding. Not only is it Jaylen but it's also a number of their guys. They did a great job on the glass in the second half.
On whether or not Temple became fatigued in the second half: I would hate to think that they got fatigued. I think they got out of character when they (Texas) had a run. They then thought they had a chance to hang in there, but it was not a time to relax. We had to get to the rim and continue to play.
SENIOR GUARD KHALIF WYATT
On Texas' ability to come back and win: It was not surprising. These guys are getting better game-by-game, especially the freshmen. They came out in this game, played to get a lead and maintained it.
SENIOR GUARD RAMONE MOORE
On whether the loss was the result of Texas' defense: I have to give credit to those guys. They played well in the beginning of the second half, resulting in a good position with a six-point lead.
On the difficulty in keeping Texas off of the boards: They were just tougher than us in the second half. The amount of offensive rebounds helped them with that.
