The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
2-0
Alcorn State
0-2
No. 10/10 Men's Basketball rolls past Alcorn State, 85-53
11.16.2014 | Men's Basketball
Myles Turner records 10 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.
AUSTIN, Texas – Myles Turner scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and swatted six shots as the No. 10 Longhorns cruised to an 85-53 win over Alcorn State on Sunday night at the Erwin Center in the 2K Classic Regional Round.
Isaiah Taylor led the Horns for the second straight game with 12 points and dished five assists. Demarcus Holland pitched in 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting plus four assists. Jonathan Holmes recorded nine points on 3-of-3 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, while grabbing nine boards.
Turner's six blocks were just one shy of the school's single-game freshman record. The Longhorns (2-0) won their 10th straight home game and held Alcorn State to a 29.7 field goal percentage, the second straight game to hold an opponent under 30 percent. The Horns shot 57.1 percent (32-of-56) overall and 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from beyond the arc.
Texas made its first four shots, from three different players, to jump out to an 8-0 lead, forcing an early Alcorn State (0-2) timeout.
A three-pointer by Holmes increased the lead to 15-0 leading to another Braves timeout. Seven different players scored a field goal in the first 10 buckets made by Texas.
Alcorn State scored its first point with 13:34 remaining in the first half and after missing its first 14 attempts, made its first field goal at the 9:28 mark.
After shooting 47.1 percent (16-of-34) in the first half against North Dakota State on Friday night, the Horns shot 61.3 percent (19-of-31) in the opening 20 minutes. After building the largest lead of the half, Alcorn State's Tamarcio Wilson drained a three to cut the Texas lead to 46-22 heading into the break. Wilson led Alcorn State with 16 points in 39 minutes played.
The Braves continued to scratch at the Texas lead and brought it down to 21, the closest since the 6:43 mark in the opening half, before two consecutive three-pointers from Javan Felix sparked a 10-0 run to give Texas a 59-28 lead.
After an 11-4 run by Alcorn State, Texas would respond with another 10-0 run to build a 34-point lead, the largest lead of the night, 73-39.
Texas increased the margin to as much as 37 (83-46) with 1:47 to play following a Connor Lammert layup. Rick Barnes called a timeout and the Longhorns played the final 1:47 with four walk-ons on the court.
The Longhorns head to New York, N.Y. to face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday, in the 2K Classic Semifinals. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. Central at historic Madison Square Garden, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
POSTGAME NOTES
Texas 85, Alcorn State 53
November 16, 2014
Erwin Center – Austin, Texas
Team Notes
- The win marked the 1,700th victory in UT program history. Texas has posted a 1,700-1,008 mark in its 109 years of intercollegiate basketball. UT is the 17th program in NCAA Division I history to reach the 1,700-win mark.
- Texas held Alcorn State scoreless for more than six minutes to begin the contest. The Braves scored their first point with 13:34 left in the first half on a LeAntwan Luckett free throw. Texas did not allow a field goal until 9:28 remained in the half. Alcorn State went 0-of-14 from the floor to start the game.
- UT limited Alcorn State to 53 points on 29.7% FG shooting (19-of-64). Texas improved to 239-26 in the Rick Barnes era when holding its opponent below 40% FG shooting.
- Texas posted a +19 rebound margin (47-28). This marked the second straight game to open the season that the Horns have registered a +19 rebound margin (51-32 against North Dakota State on Friday).
- UT recorded 24 assists on its 32 made field goals. For the game, the Horns had 24 assists against just 12 turnovers.
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the 12th time in his career (71 games)
- Set a career high with seven assists without a turnover in 17 minutes. His previous high was four against Iowa State (Feb. 13, 2013). Lammert posted six of his seven assists in the first half.
- Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the 29th time in his career (37 games)
- Tied his career high for three-pointers made (2-of-3)
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the second straight game to open his collegiate career.
- Added six blocks and seven rebounds in just 20 minutes of action.
- His six blocks were one shy of the UT single-game freshman record (7 by Tristan Thompson in 2010-11, 7 by Chris Mihm twice in 1997-98).
TEXAS QUOTES
Head Coach Rick Barnes
On if there is a more concentrated effort from the team to take more shots from the outside: We are going to take the open shots. We've got guys that work hard at it. When you look at tonight, we've got 32 field goals and we assisted on 24 of those. When we get good ball movement, were not trying to settle for a good shot. We're trying to find a great shot. When we get the threes come within the flow of our offense, we expect guys to shoot the ball.
On if he thought there was a drop off in performance in the second half: We didn't like the start of the second half. Guys (from the bench) came in and they were jumping passing lanes, they were looking to execute the way we should. We were sloppy in the second half, but those guys came in for a while because we are not going to waste those minutes. We're going to get guys that want to play and get better, and use them. Transition defense on the other hand was pretty good. We did a good job of not fouling, because we knew they were going to drive hard to the basket. We also did a great job with the perimeter lines.
On the solid start of the game: We did a lot of good things. We moved the ball, and we had some nice cuts. That's how we want to play off the passing game as much as we can. We were making shots and getting high percentage looks at it. A lot of that had to do with the fact that we did a better job at getting space. Our big guys did a pretty good job of fighting for their space, so we could get the ball where we wanted to get it.
Guard Isaiah Taylor
On first two games before hitting the road: We just wanted to come out and compete these first two games before heading to New York. New York is a business trip for us. Our first game was a great atmosphere and this game was a good atmosphere, too. We are looking forward to going to New York to compete.
On his improved outside shooting: I just worked on it, especially this offseason. Just elevating, working on my follow through, rotation on the ball, and a lot of things that my coaches have helped me on. It's something that I've grown to have more confidence in. I need to take what the defense gives me. A lot of people are going to go under (on screens), and that's fine with me. I'm consistent with the three-point shot, and that's something I feel comfortable with now.
Forward Jonathan Holmes
On starting the game with a 15-0 run: We were all focused and on the same page. We know they are a good one-on-one team and they try to isolate, so we tried to help each other on defense. We just executed on offense and it worked out for us.
On taking more outside shots: I think a lot of teams don't really think we can shoot. We have a lot of guys that can shoot. Obviously Isaiah [Taylor] has improved a lot. We've got guys like Jordan [Barnett] and Myles [Turner] that can stretch the floor. Guys like Kendal [Yancy] and Demarcus Holland are working on their shot and getting better at it. A lot of teams would like to go zone against us to think we wouldn't be able to feed our post or double team our post, but we have shooters out there. It makes it even harder to defend us.
Forward Jordan Barnett
On nerves in the first two games: Of course, the first game I was thinking it wasn't right to not be nervous. It was my first collegiate game so the nerves were going. Getting in and taking your first shot and seeing it go in, it makes you feel a lot better about yourself.
ALCORN STATE QUOTES
Head Coach Luther Riley
Opening statement: They're very big. Hats off goes to Coach Barnes and his group. They're ranked top 10 in the country for a reason. They are long and athletic. They have a great point guard and backup point [guard]. [They have] shooters and the total package.
On his advice on how neutralize Texas: You have to recruit [the kind of talent Texas has]. That's my advice, recruit it. You have to figure out a way to neutralize it. We wanted to shorten the possessions some, so the height wouldn't be as much of a factor. But we started off playing right into their hands. We took quick shots and had long rebounds which led to easy baskets [for Texas]. And, their big guys can shoot it as well.
On Texas' sophomore point guard Isaiah Taylor: Anytime you have a point guard that can probably get 25 [points] a night, be that unselfish and get his guys involved [is impressive]. The swagger he does it with I think is really phenomenal. He is so unselfish; he makes players better. He organizes his team and he carries out the coaches' plan. He is a great individual player.
