The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
12-2, 1-0
Texas Tech
10-4, 0-1
No. 11/10 Men's Basketball opens Big 12 play with 70-61 win at Texas Tech
01.03.2015 | Men's Basketball
Senior forward Jonathan Holmes joins 1,000-point club.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Senior forward Jonathan Holmes scored 14 points to become the 34th player in program history to reach the 1,000 career point milestone and lead No 11/10 Texas to a 70-61 win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders to open Big 12 Conference play on Saturday afternoon at the United Supermarkets Arena. Javan Felix led all scorers with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range.
Cameron Ridley added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Isaiah Taylor scored eight points and grabbed four steals in his first game back since injuring his left wrist against Iowa on Nov. 20. Freshman forward Myles Turner tallied eight points and a season-high 11 boards.
Texas (12-2, 1-0 Big 12) has won 12 of the last 13 meetings against the Red Raiders (10-4, 0-1 Big 12) and improved to 31-4 against Texas Tech during the Rick Barnes era. The Longhorns also improved to 13-4 in Big 12 openers in the Barnes era.
In the first four and a half minutes of the game, Texas had already recorded five blocks and held the Red Raiders to 2-of-10 shooting from the field. The Horns finished with eight blocks and are averaging 7.4 blocks per contest in their first 14 games.
The first 11 points for the Horns came from the bench. Trailing 13-11 at the 10:10 mark, Texas went on a 13-3 run to build a 24-16 lead with 4:17 left in the opening period.
Javan Felix scored all nine of his first-half points from beyond the arc, including one with 1:28 remaining which sparked a 7-2 run that gave the Longhorns a 31-22 lead at the break.
Despite committing 10 turnovers of its own, Texas forced Texas Tech into 12 turnovers in the opening half and recorded a 20-3 advantage in points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
After being held scoreless in the first half, Holmes topped the 1,000-point milestone on a layup with 19:52 remaining on UT's first possession of the second period. Holmes added a three-pointer one minute later and went on to score all 14 of his points in the second half.
Tech pulled within six points at 41-35 at the 15:03 mark, but the Horns answered with a 12-0 run to build a 56-38 cushion with 8:28 remaining. Texas increased the margin to as much as 20 points (60-40) at the 5:49 mark, before the Red Raiders made a final rally to close within seven points (66-59) with 1:19 left.
Isaiah Manderson led Texas Tech with 12 points, all in the second half, and five rebounds.
Texas returns to the court when it hosts the No. 18/21 Oklahoma Sooners on Monday, Jan. 5. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT at the Erwin Center, and the game will be televised nationally as part of the ESPN "Big Monday" schedule.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
No. 11/10 Texas 70, Texas Tech 61
January 3, 2015
United Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, Texas)
Attendance: 9,936
Team Notes
Texas improved to 13-4 in Big 12 Conference openers during the Rick Barnes era.
The Horns improved to 31-4 against Texas Tech in the Barnes era.
Texas improved to 144-21 against in-state foes during the Barnes era.
UT recorded a +12 (41-29) rebound margin in the victory. Texas has posted double-digit rebound margins in 11 of its first 14 games this year.
Texas registered eight blocks in the win. UT has posted at least eight blocked shots in nine of its first 14 games.
The Horns went 25-of-34 (.735) from the free throw line, while Texas Tech was just 13-of-26 (.500). UT converted 21-of-30 (.700) free throws in the second half.
UT posted a 26-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
Reached double figures in scoring (game-high 15 points) for the fourth straight game, seventh time this year and 36th time in his career (81 games)
Tied his season high in three-pointers made (3-of-6).
He has hit at least one 3-pointer in all of his 13 games played this year and owns a streak of 15 consecutive games played with at least one made 3-pointer.
Made his first start of the season and fifth of his career (first start since Feb. 9, 2013 vs. Oklahoma State in Austin)
Reached double figures in scoring (14 points, all in the second half) for the 10th time this year and 51st time in his career (109 games)
With his first made basket at the 19:52 mark of the second half, he became the 34th player in UT history to reach 1,000 career points. Holmes now has 1,013 points in his career.
Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the fourth time this year and 26th time in his career (82 games).
He set a season high in free throws made (7-of-10) and five of his seven rebounds came off the offensive glass.
Saw his first game action since suffering a left wrist injury against Iowa on Nov. 20 (missed the previous 10 games)
Started and recorded eight points (4-of-4 FT), four steals and two assists in 30 minutes
Reached double figures in rebounding (11 rebounds) for the third time this year (14 games). His 11 boards marked a season high.
