The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
4-0
California
3-1
No. 10/10 Men’s Basketball tops Cal, 71-55, to win 2K Classic title
11.21.2014 | Men's Basketball
Holmes posts 21 points and 13 rebounds and claims tournament MVP honors.
NEW YORK – Senior forward Jonathan Holmes recorded a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds to pace No. 10/10 Texas to a 71-55 victory against California in the 2K Classic championship game on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. Holmes, who averaged 20.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in the two games at the 2K Classic, was named Tournament MVP.
The win proved to be a complete team effort for the Longhorns (4-0). Demarcus Holland recorded 11 points, hitting 7-of-7 free throws, and five boards, while Cameron Ridley added nine points and three blocks. Javan Felix, who started at point guard in place of the injured Isaiah Taylor and was named to the 2K Classic All-Tournament team, played 35 minutes and chipped in nine points and four assists. Connor Lammert also contributed six points and nine rebounds.
Texas registered a 46-36 advantage on the glass and hit 30-of-37 free throws compared to just 12-of-22 by the Golden Bears (3-1). The UT defense was solid throughout the contest, recording 10 blocks and limiting California to 31.3 percent shooting from the floor.
Holland and Ridley scored the game's first four points and Texas, which never trailed in the contest, jumped out to a 14-4 lead after a Holmes layup with 16:42 left. California cut the lead to six (16-10) before two consecutive buckets from Holmes pushed the margin to 20-10 at the 8:30 mark.
Texas extended the cushion to 31-17 with 2:26 left on a Kendal Yancy free throw, before California scored the final four points at the half to cut the margin to 31-21 entering the break. UT held the Golden Bears to 24.1 percent shooting (7-of-29) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
The Golden Bears used a 6-0 run early in the second half to pull within 33-27 after a Tyrone Wallace jumper with 17:02 left. UT answered with an 8-2 spurt of its own to extend the cushion to 41-29 after a Holland three-point play at the 15:39 mark.
Leading 43-36 with 13:36 remaining, Texas used an 11-4 run that included baskets by four different players in the stretch to build a 54-40 cushion with 8:44 left. The margin never dipped into single digits the rest of the way.
David Kravish led the Golden Bears with 19 points, while Wallace added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Texas returns to action when it hosts Saint Francis on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central at the Frank Erwin Center, and the game will be televised nationally on Longhorn Network.
Postgame Notes
No. 10/10 Texas 71, California 55
2K Classic benefitting Wounded Warrior Project Championship Game
November 21, 2014
Madison Square Garden (New York City, N.Y.)
Attendance: 11,255
2K Classic MVP: Jonathan Holmes
2K Classic All-Tournament Team: Javan Felix, David Kravish (Cal), Chris McCullough (Syracuse), Aaron White (Iowa)
Team Notes
Texas captured its first November neutral-site tournament since the 2009 CBE Classic (Kansas City).
This marks UT's first 2K Classic team title in its five all-time appearances in the tournament (1997, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 … 2002 was technically a single-game appearance). Texas improved to 11-4 all-time at the 2K Classic.
Texas limited Cal to 55 points on 31.3% FG shooting (20-of-64), including a 3-of-12 (.250) mark from three-point range. The Horns have held each of their first four opponents to below 32% FG shooting.
Texas improved to 241-26 in the Rick Barnes era when holding its opponent below 40% FG shooting (4-0 this year).
UT held Cal to 21 points on 24.1% FG shooting (7-of-29) in the first half.
The Longhorns posted a +10 rebound margin (46-36), marking the third time in the first four games that UT has registered a double-digit rebound advantage.
UT posted a season-best 10 blocked shots. Six different UT players registered at least one block.
All eight Texas players scored at least four points and all eight grabbed at least one rebound.
Texas converted 30-of-37 (.811) from the free throw line, while Cal went 12-of-22 (.545) from the stripe.
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the second time this year and 13th time in his career (73 games).
Recorded his first double-double of the year and sixth of his career (99 games) with 21 points and 13 rebounds
Topped the 20-point mark for the first time this season and sixth time in his career
Reached double figures in scoring for the third time this year and 45th time in his career
Reached double figures in rebounding for the first time this season and 10th time in his career
