The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
17-10, 8-6
Baylor
20-7, 9-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor | 40 | 38 | 78 |
| Texas | 22 | 42 | 64 |
No. 24/25 Men's Basketball falls to No. 25/22 Baylor 78-64
02.20.2016 | Men's Basketball
Junior forward Shaquille Cleare scores career-high 14 points in loss.
AUSTIN, Texas – Junior forward Shaquille Cleare scored a career-high 14 points, but it was not enough as the No. 25/22 Baylor Bears defeated No. 24/25 Texas, 78-64, at the Erwin Center on Saturday afternoon. Cleare hit 6-of-9 from the field and brought down five rebounds in a career-high 27 minutes.
Despite a sellout crowd of 16,540, the Longhorns fell to 13-2 in games played at the Erwin Center this season. Freshman guard Eric Davis Jr. had 11 points, while junior guard Isaiah Taylor added 10 for Texas (17-10, 8-6 Big 12).
Baylor (20-7, 9-5 Big 12) was led by Johnathan Motley, who was nearly perfect from the field with a game-high 24 points on 12-of-13 shooting. Taurean Prince added 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting and had four steals. Baylor finished the night shooting 62.7-percent from the field (32-of-51) and scored 50 of its 78 points in the paint.
The Bears started the game by scoring the first six points off 3 Texas turnovers before the Longhorns were able to attempt a field goal. Baylor used a 12-0 run over 3:36 to build a 28-12 lead at the 7:26 mark and took a 40-22 lead into halftime. Baylor outscored the Longhorns in the paint 26-8 in the first half and recorded a 15-5 advantage in rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.
Motley scored Baylor's first eight points of the second half, as the Bears extended their lead to 48-26 at the 16:32 mark. Baylor finished the game with nine steals and scored 18 points off turnovers.
The Longhorns resume Big 12 Conference play at Kansas State on Monday, Feb. 22. Tip is set for 6 p.m. Central at Bramlage Coliseum, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#25/22 Baylor 78, #24/25 Texas 64
February 20, 2016
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 16,540 (sellout)
Team Notes
This marked UT's second sellout of the home season. Texas also had a sellout crowd against No. 3/3 North Carolina (Dec. 12).
Texas fell to 3-1 this year at home against AP Top 25 opponents.
The Longhorns allowed an opponent team season high in FG percentage (62.7, 32-51)
UT tied its school record for fewest number of rebounds in a Big 12 Conference game with 22 (22 vs. Missouri on Jan. 26, 1997).
Set career highs in points (14), FG made (6-9) and minutes (27)
Reached double figures in scoring for the first time in his career at Texas (27 games)
Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the fifth time in Big 12 play and 11th time this year (27 games)
Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the 21st time this season and 65th time in his career (86 games)
Postgame Quotes
Texas Head Coach Shaka Smart
On the loss to Baylor: That was a bad game by us. Baylor deserves a lot of credit. They came in played really aggressive. They just played like a highly-motivated team that wanted revenge for the last game. That was a big difference.
On Texas' defensive play: It was low-level defense. There are a variety of things that go into being good defensively and we didn't do those things at a high level. We didn't look like we had the want to do those things at a high level. As a coach, that is the most alarming thing, because it's my job to have our guys ready to play and we didn't do that today.
On giving up baskets inside: We didn't guard the drive very well. We didn't move our feet and guard. That was probably the biggest thing that allowed them to score in the paint. They only shot five 3-pointers, which is very low for a college basketball game. There were some plays where their bigs were able to get the ball around the basket and we were too reactionary. Those were the main reasons they had success inside.
Texas Junior Guard Isaiah Taylor
On the game this afternoon: They got the best of us. Hats off to Baylor. They played a good game today. We came out sluggish. We didn't come out ready to play today.
On the tone of the game: I don't think that we responded well today. Going back to the West Virginia game, they came out and punched us in the mouth, but we came back and responded. Today we weren't able to respond.
On what needs to happen in the first minutes of the game: I think we need to come out with more fight, with a sense of urgency and a sense of focus just as a team.
On advice of Coach Smart in the huddle: He was trying to motivate us. He said, 'those possessions are over. Don't think about them, and it's time to respond.' Coach did a good job helping us respond. Unfortunately, today, we didn't as a team. They came out aggressive. Their zone was very active. Just being hesitant was our problem.
Texas Junior Forward Shaquille Cleare
On Baylor's shots in the paint: It was tough having Prince [Ibeh] out (with foul trouble). He is one of our top shot blockers. They were breaking the press. I had two guys coming towards me, and I didn't do a good job. I had to commit to one. It's something we do in practice all the time, and they were able to get in the lane. We had some bad plays defensively. We just couldn't get stops.
On Baylor trapping the bigs: I didn't see a lot of traps this afternoon from Baylor, but not many teams trap the bigs like that. My teammates were able to find me. I had good positioning and called for the ball a lot this afternoon. My guys boxed it and made some good plays offensively.
Texas Senior Forward Connor Lammert
On the defense of Baylor: They were playing a little higher, but we really didn't attack it like we did last time. Their wings were up a little bit more. I think their guards did a good job pressuring the guards up top. We really didn't handle it well. I think that kind of hesitant mindset carried over to our defense. They played a great game, but you can't play hesitant against that zone. That's exactly what they want you to do. They don't want you to get below their wings, and we didn't do a good job doing that.
On Baylor scoring 50 points in the paint: I could speak for us bigs that we pride ourselves on that and today we didn't bring it, for a number of reasons I guess. We have to own that. I think that we just let it inside too easy. They got too many lay-ups. If your team is giving up lay-ups, it is certainly tough to win. We are better than this. Fifty points in the paint is unacceptable.
On the performance of the bigs: If you don't bring it mentally, anything can happen to you, especially against a top-25 team. Seeing us 20 down was tough and it was something new. I don't think that we responded well to it, but again hats off to Baylor. They played a really good game.
Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew
On his team's zone defense: I think sometimes we overcomplicate things. Texas made shots at our place that were some tough ones and we made some tough ones today. Sometimes you have to make those tough shots to get the momentum going. I think defensively, we were better than we were at our place, but I think Texas missed some shots they made at our place. I think it was really important that we were able to get stops early on and get some buckets in transition. Texas is such a good half-court defensive team as well. Some people only focus on the press, but at half-court they are really good, so it was important to get some easy buckets there.
On the lift Johnathan Motley gave the team: Twelve for 13 is pretty good. He's been playing really well and getting the guys involved and encouraging him. The season is a long season. You have injuries, you have illnesses. Some people play well, some don't play well, and that's why it takes a team to win. We're really proud of how we had a great team win tonight.
On why Baylor didn't shoot a lot of threes: I think you take what the defense gives you. We took some threes and they did a good job of contesting them. We were scoring inside. When you shoot 63-percent, you're pretty happy as a coach. I thought we handled the press really well, except at the end. Again, any time you win on the road in the Big 12 it's a great win because you have great coaches and great players. That's why three times in a row it's been ranked the hardest conference RPI-wise. For fans, it's a special year. This is the best the league has ever been ranked in conference history. This is the best top to bottom, not one team, not two teams, but top to bottom. So what that means as a coach is, whoever we play we can lose, and we know we have to bring it to give ourselves a chance.
On if Baylor is a different team with Motley in the starting lineup: I think we are a different team when we are active and flying around. When you play a team a second time, it definitely helps because you know how they're going to attack you, and you can make some changes.
On who Baylor's biggest rival is: That's what's great about the Big 12. You have a ton of rivalries. You have to start with the schools that are close to home because it is easy for fans to get to there, and it's important for your fans. Texas is a great school and they have a lot of tradition.
On the momentum headed forward: I think it's a great way to get an opportunity to get quality wins, but we are still in the [race for the] conference win and everyone wants to win the title. At the same time, I think if you're blessed to be in the NCAA Tournament, these are the types of games you're going to be playing, so it helps you prepare for it.
Baylor Senior Forward Taurean Prince
On attacking the rim: Our bigs did a good job of getting Prince Ibeh in foul trouble in the first half. When he went out of the game, that opened things up for us and allowed us to attack the rim at will. Credit to the guards for doing a good job of driving in. It just boosted the lead and we never looked back from there.
On getting a lift behind Johnathan Motley's performance: He does all these things behind closed doors and you just get to see him when the lights are bright. We've expected nothing less from Johnathan. He does a good job of coming in the gym on his own and coming to practice to work hard. When he displays it out here, it's nothing new to us.
On why Baylor performs so well on the road: We just love being the underdog. Things like that don't deter us from our plan and what we have in mind and what we want to do. When we're on the road, we lock in a little better. You just get that different vibe on the road, and everyone locks in from the minute you step off the plane.
Baylor Sophomore Forward Johnathan Motley
On if he is gaining confidence: I've been staying out of foul trouble these last couple of games, so that helps a lot.
On being in the starting lineup: I think before these last two games, I would be out within the first two minutes of me stepping on the court with two quick fouls. So not fouling early allows me to keep that rhythm I have going on. Staying out of foul trouble has helped me a lot. I've just been watching film and trying to get better.
On hitting his first 11 shots: I was just attacking the basket and making plays for my teammates.
