The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
9-3
Alabama
8-4
Men's Basketball earns 66-50 road win over Alabama
12.22.2017 | Men's Basketball
Freshman forward Mohamed Bamba led Texas with a career-high 17 points and six blocks.
BIRGMINGHAM, Ala. – Freshman forward Mohamed Bamba recorded a career-high 17 points and six blocks as Texas Men's Basketball (9-3) earned a 66-50 road win over Alabama (8-4) in the Vulcan Classic at Legacy Arena on Friday night. Bamba was 7-of-10 from the field and added 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
Freshman point guard Matt Coleman recorded 13 points and four assists, while junior guard Kerwin Roach II added 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting and five assists against just one turnover. Junior forward Dylan Osetkowski tallied 11 rebounds and eight points.
Texas held the Crimson Tide to just 21-of-61 (34.4%) shooting in the contest, including 20 percent (3-of-15) from beyond-the-arc.
Coleman connected on a 3-pointer to give Texas a 16-15 lead at the 11:19 mark in the first half. Six points from Bamba fueled a 10-0 run over a two-minute stretch, as the UT lead grew to double digits (33-21) with 3:33 remaining in the half.
A pair of free throws from Roach with 1:07 to play concluded the scoring for UT in the first half, as the Longhorns took a 35-28 lead into the break. Roach paced Texas in the first half with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, while Bamba added 10 points and six boards.
The Longhorns shot 43 percent (13-of-30) in the first half and held Alabama to 34 percent (11-of-32), including 1-of-7 (14%) from three-point range.
Texas opened the second half with a Bamba block, a Bamba dunk and three-pointer from sophomore guard Jacob Young to take a 12-point lead (40-28) with 19:15 remaining. Trailing 45-35 after an Osetkowski free throw at the 14:53 mark, the Crimson Tide made three consecutive baskets to cut the lead to 45-41 with 12:57 left.
UT immediately answered with an Osetkowski jumper and a Bamba dunk to stretch the advantage back to eight points (49-41) with 10:18 to play. The Longhorns held a 57-48 lead at the 5:09 mark after back-to-back 3-pointers from sophomore guard Eric Davis Jr. Texas finished the final four minutes on a 9-2 run behind six consecutive points from Coleman to seal the 66-50 win.
John Petty led the Crimson Tide with 14 points.
Texas returns to the Frank Erwin Center for its Big 12 Conference opener against Kansas on Friday, Dec 29. Tip is slated for 8 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas 66, Alabama 50
Vulcan Classic
December 22, 2017
Legacy Arena (Birmingham, Alabama)
Attendance: 16,146
Team Notes
- Texas improved to 9-4 against Alabama in the all-time series between the two schools. The Longhorns have won the last three meetings against the Crimson Tide.
- UT improved to 2-0 in road contests this season.
- The Longhorns held Alabama to 50 points on 34.4% (21-61) FG shooting, including a 20% (3-15) mark from three-point range.
- Texas set a team season high in blocked shots (9).
- UT registered a 12-4 advantage in fast-break points.
- Set career highs in points (17), blocked shots (6) and field goals made (7-10)
- Registered his fourth double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) of the season (11 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time this year
- Reached double figures in rebounds for the seventh time this season
- Has registered at least 2 blocks in each of his first 11 contests to start his collegiate career (has 47 total in his first 11 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the fourth time this year (12 games) and first time since Nov. 26 vs. Gonzaga
- Set a season high in rebounds (5) and tied his season high in three-pointers made (3-5)
- Reached double figures in rebounds (11) for the third time this season (12 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the eighth time this year (12 games) and 34th time in his career (77 games)
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