The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas
No. 10 Men's Basketball falls to No. 2 Kansas, 85-73
03.12.2011 | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2011
Box Score | | | Box Score 
| Notes | Texas Quotes | Kansas Quotes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jordan Hamilton scored 21 points for 10th-ranked Texas, however the Longhorns fell to second-ranked Kansas, 85-73, in the Big 12 title game on Saturday.
Tyshawn Taylor had a season-high 20 points and Marcus Morris added 17 for the Jayhawks (32-2), who built a big early lead and never let second-seeded Texas (27-7) closer than eight.
The Longhorns chipped a 48-33 halftime deficit to 60-52 with about eight minutes left, taking advantage while Marcus and Markieff Morris sat on the bench with three fouls.
"They came out and really, really a terrific first half they put on us," Texas head coach Rick Barnes said. "But obviously from where we sit we're disappointed we didn't play up to our ability. And, again, you have to give them credit for that."
After Taylor and J'Covan Brown swapped 3-pointers, Tyrel Reed hit an uncontested three and rebounded a Texas miss, leading to Markieff Morris' tip-in for a 68-55 lead. A moment later, Reed's steal led to Markieff Morris' free throw.
The Longhorns were weakened when freshman Tristan Thompson got in early foul trouble.
"We just got down and kept trying to work our way back into it, and every time we gave ourselves a chance, we either took a quick shot or made a poor decision, or we went down and made a poor decision on the defensive end and gave them either a pretty good look from the perimeter or an offensive rebound," Barnes said. "With all that said, and certainly Tristan wasn't in the game who alters and changes so many games, we cut it to eight."
It was the fourth time the Jayhawks beat Texas in the Big 12 title game and wrapped up a nearly certain No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
The Morris twins were a collective 5-for-6 in the opening minutes before Taylor's steal keyed a 10-2 run that left the Jayhawks with a 27-15 lead. J'Covan Brown's 3-pointer trimmed the lead to 71-63 with about five minutes left, but the Jayhawks answered with Morningstar's breakaway bank shot, Robinson's tip-in and two buckets by Marcus Morris.
Brown had 17 points and Cory Joseph 14 for Texas, which shot 41 percent while the Jayhawks hit 57 percent.
"Give credit to Kansas. They came in and played hard," said Hamilton. "We just had to execute and listen to what coach said. At the end, we kind of melted down as far as running our plays."
TEAM
- With the loss, Texas fell to 41-34 (.547) all-time in league tournament games
- With the loss, Texas fell to 20-15 (.571) in 15 appearances at the Phillips 66 Big Championship
- With the loss, Texas fell to 18-13 (.581) in 13 appearances under Rick Barnes at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship
- With the loss, Texas fell to 6-3 against AP Top 25 opponents this season
- Kansas' 48 points in the first half were the most by a Texas opponent this season
- Kansas' 56.9 FG percentage (33-58) was the highest by a Texas opponent this season
- Kansas' 33 field goals made were the highest by a Texas opponent this season
- Reached double digits in scoring (17 points) for the 16th time this season and 31st time in his career (67 games)
- Is averaging 22.7 ppg in three career games against Kansas
- Named to the Big 12 All-Championship Team
- Recorded at least 20 points (21 points) for the 15th time this season and 17th time in his career (68 games)
- Reached double digits in scoring for the 33rd time this season and the 51st time in his career
- Led Texas in scoring for the 24th time this season
- Led Texas in rebounding (nine rebounds) for the 10th time this season
- Now has tallied 1,153 career points, placing him 22nd in Texas history
- Reached double digits in scoring (14 points) for the 20th time this season
- Named to the Big 12 All-Championship Team
- Averaged 11.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship
