The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UT Arlington
McClellan lifts Men's Basketball past Texas-Arlington, 80-62
12.06.2011 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2011
Box Score 
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)-Sheldon McClellan scored a career-high 23 points to help Texas defeat Texas-Arlington 80-62 Tuesday night.
McClellan became the fourth different player to lead Texas (6-2) in scoring this season. The freshman averages 10.3 points per game but surpassed that mark in under 10 minutes against the Mavericks (4-3).
McClellan converted 4 of his 6 3-pointers. The rest of the Longhorns were 2 of 21 from long range.
Kevin Butler scored 12 for Texas-Arlington, which fell to 0-7 all-time against Texas.
A 10-2 run by Texas that bridged halftime created some breathing room for the Longhorns and gave them a 39-28 lead. Texas-Arlington got within 45-39 with 15:17 remaining before the Longhorns scored nine of the next 12 points to extend the lead.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Texas improved to 7-0 in its series with UT Arlington.
- Texas improved to 97-9 (.915) at the Erwin Center in the last seven seasons [dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season] and 187-24 (.886) at the Erwin Center under Rick Barnes.
- Texas has held 220 of its 453 opponents to under 40% field-goal shooting in the Rick Barnes era. UT sports a 201-19 (.914) mark in the Barnes era when accomplishing the feat.
- Texas has held its last four opponents to an average of 54.5 points per game; its last four opponents have shot 33.6% from the field (79-of-235), including a 24-of-76 (.316) from three-point range.
- Texas improves to 114-15 (.884) against in-state opponents during the Rick Barnes era.
- Five Longhorns reached double figures in scoring, marking the third game the feat has occurred this season.
J'Covan Brown
- Tied a career high with three steals - Reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time in eight games, totaled 11 points
Myck Kabongo
- Reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time this season, totaled 13 points - Has posted a 22-to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio in his last three games - Has recorded seven assists or more in five of eight games this season
Julien Lewis
- Reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time this season, totaled 13 points
Sheldon McClellan
- Scored 13 of UT's first 17 points (5 of 5, 3-3 3-pt FG) in the game's opening eight minutes - Set new career highs with 23 points and eight field goals and tied his career high with six rebounds - Notched his first 20+ point game, the first for a Longhorn other than J'Covan Brownthis season
Alexis Wangmene
- Reached double figures in scoring for the third time this season, totaled 10 points
UT ARLINGTON QUOTES
HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS
Opening statement:Obviously, it was a little bit of a disappointing game for us. I didn't feel like we played with the same juice and energy that we have been in the last few games, but with a lot of that, you have to give Texas credit. That's the one thing that they do great is they play great defense. They're very solid and they are every year. Coach Barnes does a great job with that. We have to do a better job in some areas, like finishing shots. I was glad our guys competed with them on the boards. We're just going to take it as a learning experience and get back and try and get a little bit better.
On the play of Sheldon McClellan: I did [know him] just from watching him in high school. I knew he was a great player. Obviously J'Covan Brown is the one that has the big numbers, but you can watch on tape that Sheldon McClellancan do it all. There was a reason he was a top [player] in the country coming out of high school. A couple of those shots he hit were amazing. There are not many guys that can come full speed, turn around on a dime and just knock it down, nothing but net. He did that a couple of times. That just shows what a high level player he is.
On the difference in the game despite keeping it close: I think the difference in the game was Myck Kabongo. He just did an unbelievable job getting in the paint. He creates for all those guys, and of course they can shoot it extremely well, but there is a reason why they are shooting it well too. He's creating shots for all of those guys and that is why I think they shoot the high percentage. He was getting in the paint at will on our guys and that's one thing we try and do defensively is keep teams out of the paint. Obviously, the number of points they got in the paint was tremendous and I think it all starts with him.
TEXAS PLAYER QUOTES
JUNIOR GUARD J'Covan Brown
On his teammates scoring prolifically:It puts a smile on my face when I'm having a bad game to see what these guys can do. I'm just happy for them. It was good to see them having a great night out there.
On whether having more offensive threats makes him even more of a threat offensively:It makes me very dangerous. When they get going, the (opposing) coaches may start switching defenses up. They may start to pressure them. It takes a lot of pressure off of me. Some of our guys like Sheldon (McClellan) have had great games, and also Julien (Lewis) and Myck (Kabongo). We've just got to bring it every night.
On whether there are certain players to whom he wants to get the ball:I try to find everybody. I like to pass the ball. I like to do everything my team wants me to do. When I get up the middle, I already know I have three or four outlets outside the three-point line. It could be Myck (Kabongo), Sterling (Gibbs), Julien (Lewis) or Sheldon (McClellan). Whoever is open is going to get it.
FRESHMAN GUARD Sheldon McClellan
On his career scoring night:I think my shot was just falling in and my teammates did a good job of finding me in the open court. I took advantage of the open shots that kept coming to me.
On how he kept making shots: I was just trying to find my shot and playing within the team. My teammates were finding me so I was just shooting the ball.
On whether he ever felt overlooked among UT's freshman class: No. Not at all. This freshman class (at UT) had some of the top recruits coming in. Everybody can be a big part of this team. I'm just looking to do whatever Coach (Barnes) tells me. I want to fit into the team wherever I can.
TEXAS COACH QUOTES
HEAD COACH Rick Barnes
On freshman guard Sheldon McClellan:I'm more blown away every day. He is tremendously talented. He still doesn't understand how good he can be. There are a lot of things that he knows he needs to learn about the game, but he is one of the last people to leave the court every day. We left here last night and I heard him in the weight room cutting up and shooting baskets. Tonight, he took shots, and that is what we have tried to tell him to do. When he's open, he's one of those guys that every time it leaves his hands you think it's going in.
On McClellan coming off of the bench:I don't know that it bothers him. As time goes on, I think the guy that is going to end up playing more, out of those guards, is going to be the guy who gets the most consistent, defensively. Both he and Julien [Lewis] were not very good defensively tonight. We have guys who can score the ball. When we execute and screen, we are going to get what we need to get.
On Jaylen Bond: I think the biggest thing with Jaylen [Bond] is that he is learning there is more to basketball than just playing. There are schemes that are going on whether you are on the offensive or defensive end. There is no doubt when guys have to think all the time, I don't think they can get up in the flow of the game and react more. He is getting better, and it is all new to him. He started our first two exhibition games, but he's got to keep adding and growing. That is where he struggled a little bit. I think one thing he is starting to realize is that he has to do those things if he wants to play.
