The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
10-1
Long Beach State
5-7
Felix leads No. 9/9 Longhorns to 78-68 victory over 49ers
12.20.2014 | Men's Basketball
Five players score in double digits.
AUSTIN, Texas – Five players scored in double digits led by Javan Felix's season-high 17 points, Connor Lammert recorded his second career double-double and the No. 9/9 Texas Longhorns defeated Long Beach State, 78-68, on Saturday night at the Erwin Center.
Lammert finished the night with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He has now averaged 10 boards a game over the last four contests.
Felix tied his previous season high of 11 points in the first half alone, hitting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. His second trey of the half helped spark a 13-0 run by the Longhorns to build a 26-13 lead with 10:55 remaining in the half.
Cameron Ridley scored 13 points, while making his first six shots, finishing 6-of-7, and grabbed six boards. Jonathan Holmes added 14 points, while Demarcus Holland registered 10 points and seven boards.
The Longhorns (10-1) jumped out to a 15-point lead thanks to some sharp shooting from long range, hitting five of their first six from deep. But a sluggish end to the first half enabled the 49ers to climb back into the game.
Long Beach State (5-7) went on a 14-8 run over the final seven minutes of the opening frame to cut the lead to just eight points at the break (42-34). The 49ers came within five points before a three-pointer from Felix lifted the lead back to eight points.
That lead would slowly disappear in the second half as Long Beach took advantage of turnovers by the Longhorns to tie the game at 50-50 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the contest. Texas went nearly four minutes without scoring during the stretch.
The 49ers took the lead 53-50 on a traditional three-point play with 12:49 to play, but the Longhorns responded quickly with a six-point burst to go up 56-53 and force a Long Beach State timeout with 11:18 remaining.
That run was extended to 10 straight points with a pull-up jumper by Felix. Texas built the lead back up to 13 points with a 19-3 run.
Mike Caffey paced the 49ers with 23 points, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Long Beach State took advantage of 15 turnovers by the Longhorns resulting in 16 points. Texas did shoot 50 percent or better for the third straight game to overcome those turnovers.
The Longhorns return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 23 when they play host to the Stanford Cardinal at 6 p.m. at the Erwin Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
No. 9/9 Texas 78, Long Beach State 68
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 9,179
Team Notes
- Texas posted a +12 rebound margin (40-28). This marked the ninth time in the first 11 games that UT has recorded a double-digit rebound advantage.
- The Longhorns recorded eight blocks tonight. The Horns have posted at least seven blocks in eight of their last 10 games.
- Long Beach State registered opponent team highs against Texas in both points (68) and field goal percentage (.387). UT's previous highs allowed came against Kentucky (63 points, .375 field goal percentage). Texas improved to 10-1 this year and 247-27 in the Rick Barnes era when holding its opponent below 40% FG shooting.
- Texas converted 80.0% (16-of-20) from the free throw line. This marked the fourth time this season that UT has hit at least 80% from the stripe.
- Reached double figures in scoring (17 points) for the fourth time this year and 33rd time in his career (78 games).
- Felix set season highs in points, field goals made (6-of-9) and three-pointers made (3-of-5).
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the fifth time this year and 16th time in his career (80 games).
- Set a season high in rebounds (seven)
- Reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the seventh time this year and 48th time in his career (106 games).
- Posted his first double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds) of the year and second of his career (80 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the second time this year and 10th time in his career.
- Reached double figures in rebounds for the second time this year and fifth time in his career.
- Averaging 10.0 rebounds per game over the last four games.
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the third time this year and 25th time in his career (79 games).
