The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Iowa State
No. 5 Men's Basketball tops Iowa State, 76-53
02.22.2011 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2011
Box Score 
Final Stats | | Quotes
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- As shooting slumps go, Jordan Hamilton's wasn't very long.
It was very frustrating.
Hamilton, a contender for Big 12 player of the year, broke out of a two-game slump with 20 points and No. 5 Texas rebounded from its first loss in a month with a 76-53 rout of Iowa State on Tuesday night.
Tristan Thompson added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Longhorns (24-4, 12-1 Big 12). Hamilton and Thompson keyed a big Texas run at the start of the second half that put the game away.
Those two both struggled when Texas had its 11-game winning streak snapped in a loss at Nebraska last weekend. Hamilton was 3 of 16 from the field in that game and Thompson had just three rebounds. Hamilton had also struggled with his touch in a win last week over Oklahoma State.
"I spent some extra time in the gym," after the loss, Hamilton said. "I wanted to get my shot back. ... Tonight I took good shots."
It didn't happen right away. He missed his first three attempts against the Cyclones. Iowa State grabbed an early lead and Thompson had a tip-in into in the wrong basket that drew a loud groan from the home crowd.
Hamilton then made four of his next five shots and scored eight points in a 15-6 Texas run. Gary Johnson made his first 3-pointer of the season - and second of his career - and Hamilton converted a four-point play that put Texas up 33-23. Texas led 35-26 at halftime.
Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg implored his team in the locker room to push back and keep it close. The Cyclones had lost nine games by six points or less.
But the Longhorns effectively put the game away in the opening minutes of the second.
Johnson opened the half with another long jumper and Thompson scored five straight points. The Longhorns led 46-33 before Hamilton made consecutive 3-pointers in a 30-second span that pushed the Texas lead to 19 and the rout was on.
"Jordan came out with sparks flying. He couldn't be touched," Thompson said. "That's what great players do."
The run doomed Iowa State (14-14, 1-12) to its 10th straight loss. The Cyclones haven't won since beating Baylor on Jan. 15.
"The first 5 minutes (of the second half) were going to determine the outcome of the game. In a matter of 3 minutes, the lead went from nine to 20," Hoiberg said. "... You're fighting a battle you can't win when you get down 20."
The Cyclones, who shot just 6 of 24 on 3-pointers, never made a dent in the Texas lead. When the Longhorns' Matt Hill made a layup with 8:34 to play, Texas led 71-42.
Diante Garrett scored 16 points to lead Iowa State.
Hamilton finished 7 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers. Johnson finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Thompson's double-double was his fifth.
Thompson said he was embarrassed by his poor rebounding against Nebraska and was determined to make up for it. Texas outrebounded Iowa State 45-36.
"I just wanted to be active," Thompson said.
While Hoiberg was trying to keep it close, the halftime message in the Texas locker room was "don't let up."
"Keep the foot on the gas and don't let up on them," Thompson said.
By doing that, Texas kept its one-game lead over Kansas on top of the Big 12 standings with three regular-season games left to play at Colorado, at home against Kansas State and at Baylor.
Iowa State, which has lost seven straight to Texas, played its third consecutive game without senior forward Jamie Vanderbeken, who has a sprained left ankle.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- This marks the fourth time in program history (third in the Rick Barnes era) that Texas has started the year with at least 24 wins in its first 28 games. Texas started 24-4 in the 2005-06 and 2007-08 Elite Eight Seasons. The 1946-47 Final Four team finished the season 26-2.
- Texas has not trailed in six of its seven home conference games and eight of its 13 conference contests
- Out of the 520 minutes played in Big 12 action, Texas has only trailed a combined 49:33 (29:20 of this total came in the win at Kansas, 14:43 came in the loss at Nebraska).
- Diante Garrett of Iowa State's three pointer at the 14:53 mark of the first half marked the first time that Texas has trailed at home in conference play. Texas trailed for a stretch of 2:16 before re-taking the lead at 14-13 on two Cory Joseph free throws.
- With Tristan Thompson and Gary Johnson recording double-doubles, it marks the first time since Nov. 8 vs. Navy that Texas has had two players record a double-double when Gary Johnson and Jordan Hamilton accomplished the feat.
- Texas held Iowa State to a season low 53 points
- Texas has won by double digits in 11 of its 12 conference victories
- Texas is holding Big 12 opponents to 55.7 points per game
- Texas has held 10 of its 13 Big 12 opponents under 40.0% shooting from the field
- Texas owned a rebounding edge for the 24th time in 28 games on the season
- Texas owns a +17.8 edge in scoring margin in its 12 conference wins
- Texas has won seven straight games against Iowa State
- Texas improved to 11-3 against Iowa State in the Rick Barnes era
- Texas improved to 88-15 (.854) in Big 12 home games in the Rick Barnes era and 182-23 (.888) overall at home during his tenure
- Texas held Iowa State without a field goal for the final 4:55 of the first half
Jordan Hamilton
- Recorded at least 20 points (20 points) for the 12th time this season and 14th time in his career (62 games)
- Reached double digits in scoring for the 27th time this season and the 45th time in his career
Gary Johnson
- Recorded his fourth double-double of the season (14 points, 12 rebounds) and the ninth of his career
- Reached double digits in scoring for the 19th time this season and the 55th time in his career (116 games)
- Reached double digits in rebounding for the fifth time this season and the 11th time in his career
- Tied a career high with 12 rebounds
- Made the second three-point field goal of his college career (last vs. North Carolina on Dec. 19, 2009)
- Has now tallied 1,095 career points, placing him 26th in Texas history
Cory Joseph
- Recorded a career high seven assists
Tristan Thompson
- Recorded a double-double for the fifth time this season (17 points, 14 rebounds) and for the second time in the last four games
- Reached double digits in scoring for the 22nd time this season
- Reached double digits in rebounding for the sixth time this season
- Recorded at least three blocks for the 10th time this season
TEXAS QUOTES
Head Coach Rick Barnes
Opening statement: Defensively, we knew that they would be a dribble-drive team, spread us out, and shoot three-pointers. Certainly, you look at Diante Garrett, and we knew that he would try and control the game as much as he could. Dogus Balbay is being played in a bunch of different way. I do not know if we have ever let some just sit under the basket, but defensively, he was obviously terrific in the second half. Overall, I think that the things that we talked about we tried to make an effort to get them done.
On how they played better in the second half: Dogus [Balbay] was out there more. That helps a little bit, obviously. He does such a good job in the backcourt. There at the start of the second half, it seemed like he had his hands on everything. Iowa State is capable of making shots and play really hard. When you think about the season that they have had to go through and some of the early losses, to stick with it, you have to give them a lot of credit. It is hard when it gets to this time of year. It speaks volumes to Fred [Hoiberg] and his staff and his team. We told our team coming in that these guys were going to compete, and I think that you saw that in the first half.
TEXAS PLAYER QUOTES
SOPHOMORE G/F Jordan Hamilton
On getting the ball to Tristan Thompson: For our team to have success on the offensive end we have to get the ball to Tristan. I think he did a great job tonight taking good shots, knocking down free throws and rebounding very well.
On being eager getting on the court after a rough shooting night against Nebraska: I spent some extra time in the gym this week because I wanted to get my shot back. I went 3-for-16 against Nebraska and I knew that was not good and tonight I just took good shots and my teammates did a great job getting me the ball.
FRESHMAN F Tristan Thompson
On recording 14 rebounds and the Nebraska game factoring into tonight: I knew coming in that we needed to be active on the glass and Gary and I talked it before the game about being active on the glass. That is the reason why we had the loss at Nebraska so we knew coming in we had to be active on the glass.
On what coach said at half time: He just said the same thing. Keep the foot on the gas and don't let up on them. Jordan helped us out with that by making a lot of key shots and really getting the momentum back and getting the crowd into it. That really helped us a lot.
IOWA STATE QUOTES
Head Coach Fred Hoiberg
Opening statement: I felt we did a solid job on control in the first half. I thought we missed some great looks. We had a few wide open shots. I thought in the second half we came out, like I told the guys I challenged them, [Texas] was up seven against Nebraska, seven against us. The first five minutes were going to determine the outcome of that game. I think in a matter of three minutes I think the lead went from nine to 20. We were careless with the ball. As a result, we didn't get back in transition, they gave us some fast break opportunities and then you're fighting a battle you can't win when you get down 20.
On Jordan Hamilton: I think he is big time. I think he is one of the top players in the country. With his size at 6'8 he can post. He can shoot. He can get the first step and get to the basket where he finishes very well in there. Coming from where I've been the past few years in the NBA he is a prototype wing player. He's got the size, the quickness, the speed, the shooting stroke and he has the ability to be a very special player.
