The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Connecticut
Men's Basketball falls to UConn, 71-66
12.29.2015 | Men's Basketball
Freshman Tevin Mack scored a season-high 20 points in the home loss on Tuesday night.
AUSTIN, Texas— Texas freshman Tevin Mack led all scorers with a career-high 20 points and six rebounds in a 71-66 loss to Connecticut inside the Frank Erwin Center on Tuesday night. Junior Isaiah Taylor joined him in double figures with 19 points, while senior Prince Ibeh tied a career high with five blocks on the night.
With the loss, Texas (8-4) ended its six-game winning streak and recorded its first home loss of the season. As a team, the Longhorns shot 39 percent from the floor (23-of-59).
Connecticut (9-3) was led by junior Rodney Purvis, who scored 16 points behind a 7-for-12 shooting effort from the floor. As a team, the Huskies shot 46.6 percent (27-for-58) on the night and narrowly outrebounded the Longhorns, 36-34.
Early in the first half, Connecticut was able to jump out to an 8-2 lead after a Purvis layup at the 16:21 mark. Texas responded with a 14-2 run, including back-to-back layups from both Taylor and Kerwin Roach, Jr., to take a 16-10 lead and force a UConn timeout with 12 minutes remaining in the first half.
The Huskies battled back within the next two minutes, and a Jalen Adams tip-in tied it up (17-17) at the 9:53 mark. The lead changed four times from there, with no team leading by more than four points for the remainder of the half.
A Mack jumper at the 2:04 mark gave him 12 points in the half, including a 4-of-8 shooting effort and three boards. Purvis made a layup with 27 seconds remaining to send the Huskies into the locker room with a slim 34-33 advantage.
Javan Felix opened up the second half by beating the shot clock with a floater, but Shonn Miller answered with a 3-pointer and dunk to give Connecticut a 41-36 lead. A Conner Lammert jumper at the 16:20 mark pulled the Horns within three (41-38) headed into the first media timeout.
Texas used a Mack three-pointer, a Taylor layup and a Shaquille Cleare layup to grab a 45-44 lead with 13:44 left. The Huskies responded with and 8-2 spurt over the next two minutes to take a 52-47 lead on a Daniel Hamilton layup at the 11:19 mark.
Taylor hit a jumper and Mack knocked down another three-pointer to give Texas a 53-52 lead with 8:18 left. Connecticut answered with a 6-0 run of its own to once again lead by five (58-53) with 6:50 remaining in the game.
The Huskies pushed the lead to eight points (63-55) after a Purvis jumper with 3:20 left. Texas wasn't finished yet, and a three-point play from Taylor brought the Longhorns within 65-62 with 57 seconds left.
The Huskies were able to hold on, converting 6-for-6 from the line down the stretch, en route to the 71-66 victory.
The Longhorns open their Big 12 Conference slate on Saturday, Jan. 2 in Lubbock against Texas Tech. Tip is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Connecticut 71, Texas 66
December 29, 2015
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 13,931
Team Notes
Texas had its eight-game home winning streak (won last two home games in 2014-15, won first six home games in 2015-16) snapped in the defeat.
UT recorded a 29-10 advantage in bench scoring.
This marked Texas' first game without senior center Cameron Ridley (fractured left foot in practice on Sunday, Dec. 27 and is out indefinitely).
Tied his season high in rebounds (6) in just 12 minutes of action
Tied his career high in blocks (5) – set twice previously (last vs. UT Arlington on Nov. 29, 2013)
Set a season high in minutes (18)
Topped the 20-point mark (20 points) for the first time in his career (12 games)
Reached double figures in scoring for the second time this season
Set career highs in points, rebounds (6) and three-pointers made (5-of-9)
Reached double figures in scoring (19 points) for the ninth time this season and 53rd time in his career (71 games)
Postgame Quotes
TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Shaka Smart
Opening Statement: That was a tough one, because I thought our guys had a good amount of energy and effort for most of the game. We just didn't get stops when we needed to get them. They made some big plays in the second half. It was primarily guys putting their heads down and deciding to drive. We knew that coming in this game. There is a difference between knowing it and stopping it, and we weren't able to stop it tonight. We had a poor shooting night. Those things combined led us to come up short.
On shot selection: We lacked poise. I think we had back-to-back possessions where we forced a three-point shot that was flat-out a bad shot. It was freshmen that took both of them. Those guys are going to need to learn in that situation with the time and the score that we have to get a better shot. Overall, I do think that we got good looks that we didn't make at the rim and inside. Obviously, we weren't able to throw the ball into the post as much as we have, but I feel like there were just a few small things that if we fix, this game could've gone differently.
On late game run by UConn: We knew coming into the game that they were going to play a lot of one-on-one and it worked for them. They got by us too much. They got in the lane way more than we wanted them to, and that's something we have to get better at. But you have to give credit to UConn as well. They have really dynamic guards that can handle, pass and shoot the basketball.
On playing without Cam Ridley: We were still figuring out how we want to play even when we had Cam. We were getting into a little bit of a groove, at least on the offensive side. In terms of what our priorities were, that changes when you take him out of the mix. Tonight was a little bit different anyway, because UConn played most of the game with Daniel Hamilton at the four spot. He is just an outstanding guard with size. We had to counter that by playing a little bit differently. We are going to be more dependent on our guards and shooting the ball from the outside.
On Tevin Mack: Tevin had a great game. He is a really good player and this first couple months of the season he has had to make an adjustment, like a lot of freshman at the college level, and it has been harder than expected. I was so excited tonight to see him play with poise and aggressiveness. If you take him out of the mix, we only made one three-pointer as a team.
Junior Isaiah Taylor
On how the game went overall: I just think we didn't get enough stops down the stretch. We knew they wanted to play one-on-one and pick and roll, and we just didn't get enough stops. I didn't think that we were energetic enough on the defensive end, and they converted down the stretch.
On how the big guys did without Cam [Ridley]: I think they did great. Prince [Ibeh] gave us great minutes. Connor [Lammert] did good and I think Shaq [Cleare] came off the bench today and got us some easy points and some rebounds.
On what he is expecting from Shaq: He is going to step up. We talked last night and he's just a gamer. He is kind of like the big brother on the team. He told me he was going to step up and do it for the team now that Cam is out. Cam sent us a message and we have him in our prayers and we are going to step up.
On what the issue was tonight: UConn is a good team. We knew that coming in. They have some good guards and some good bigs. But, we're a good team, too, with or without Cam. We miss him, but we were in this game and this is a game we were capable of winning. Coach said this would be a game of runs and it was. We just didn't get stops down the stretch. We have to do a better job of staying in front of the ball.
Freshman Tevin Mack
On his shooting: It was definitely good to see the ball go in the hole finally, but it honestly doesn't mean much since we didn't win the game. But we just have to get stops and get better on defense, and we should be fine going forward.
On playing the four role: Honestly, it gives me an advantage, because a lot of fours in college are a lot bigger than me, so they are slower and I'm able to take them off the dribble. I'm getting used to it definitely, but it's working out well so far.
On bringing more effort on his rebounding: Yes definitely, that's what coach always tells me--to keep on the glass. Offense will always come for me, but I have to keep up on defense and get to the glass.
UCONN POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Kevin Ollie
Opening Statement: I have to take my hat off to Shaka [Smart] and his group, especially after the injury to Ridley. I know what that's like, having an injury to a leader. They came out and fought the whole game. It was a great environment and our guys showed so much guts and poise. Our guys put up three P's on the board: they put up passion, purpose, and poise. They got the lead at the 11-minute mark and then we went on a four-point run and took the lead back and never let it go. Rodney [Purvis] was huge in the second half. Going back to last year, this is his 18th-straight game in double figures. Kentan [Facey] was huge for us also in the first half, just holding down the fort and playing tough. This is a great team win for us and now we are on to conference play.
On play of Rodney Purvis: Rodney was the catalyst of that. He was making some uncharacteristic mistakes out there, especially on the defensive end. I talked to him, his teammates talked to him, and (we were) just telling him that we need him to focus in and be the leader that he has been all year. I think he fought and recovered and he did a great job to get back to a level five. Our defense was outstanding, causing them to shoot a low percentage from three and then rebounding the basketball. We fought and played with heart and we won the rebounding battle.
On Kentan Facey: He hasn't been playing huge minutes. He has been [in for] about 18 or 19 minutes, so with extended minutes I knew he could play. Kentan stays ready. He practices very, very hard and when he get his chance to play, he's ready. That's what guys do when it's not favored their way, they stay in the boat ready to perform and when the light turns on, they are ready to go.
