The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
6-2
VCU
5-4
Men's Basketball downs VCU on road, 71-67
12.05.2017 | Men's Basketball
Andrew Jones scores career-high 19 points, as Shaka Smart records his 200th career victory.
RICHMOND, Va. – Sophomore guard Andrew Jones posted a career-high 19 points as Texas (6-2) picked up a road victory against VCU (5-4) on Tuesday night, 71-67, in front of a sellout crowd at the Siegel Center. The victory marked the 200th career win for Texas Head Coach Shaka Smart.
Jones tied a career-high with four 3-pointers on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Freshman forward Mohamed Bamba turned in his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds and added four blocks, while junior forward Dylan Osetkowski added 17 points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Junior guard Eric Davis Jr. matched a season high with 11 points and hit a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining to seal the outcome.
The Longhorns shot 26-of-51 (51 percent) from the field and a season-high 44 percent (7-of-16) from three-point range. UT held VCU to just 28 percent (7-25) from beyond-the-arc and 24-of-60 (.400) overall.
Texas sprinted out to an early 12-2 lead, fueled by seven points from Jones, heading into the first media timeout at the 15:59 mark. The Longhorns held VCU to just 1-of-9 shooting in the opening five minutes of play.
UT grabbed a nine-point (20-11) advantage after freshman Jericho Sims finished a dunk with 11:43 remaining. Jones' third 3-pointer of the half stretched the Texas lead to 29-15 with under nine minutes to play in the opening half.
VCU used an 11-3 run to cut the margin to just six points (32-26) with 3:35 remaining. Junior guard Kerwin Roach II connected on a layup with three seconds to send UT into the break with a 40-32 lead.
Jones led the Longhorns in the first half with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a 3-of-5 mark from three-point range. Osetkowski joined Jones in double figures with 10 points, while Bamba added seven rebounds, five points and three blocks. The Longhorns shot 52 percent from the field in the first half and 5-of-10 from 3-point range.
Two dunks from Bamba fueled a 13-4 Texas run in the opening five minutes of the second half to extend the lead to 17 points (53-36) at the 14:42 mark. VCU outscored the Longhorns 25-5 over an 8-minute stretch to take its first lead of the game at 63-62 with 3:38 to play.
UT regained the lead for good after Bamba connected on a pair of free throws at the 1:34 mark. Osetkowski knocked down a 3-pointer on the following possession to give Texas a 67-63 advantage with 55 seconds remaining. Two free throws from Davis Jr. with 12 seconds to play in regulation sealed the 71-67 victory.
Justin Tillman paced the Rams with 22 points.
Texas returns to action when it hosts Michigan on Tuesday, Dec 12 for "Star Wars Night." Tip is set for 8 p.m. Central at the Frank Erwin Center, and the game will be televisednationally by ESPN2.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas 71, VCU 67
December 5, 2017
Siegel Center (Richmond, Va.)
Attendance: 7,637 (sellout)
Team Notes
- Tonight's contest marked the first true road game for the Longhorns this season.
- Texas improved to 2-1 in the all-time series against VCU. Tonight's game marked the first meeting between the two schools since Feb. 16, 1993.
- Head Coach Shaka Smart earned his 200th career victory (overall record of 200-93 in his ninth year).
- Texas led by as much as 19 points (57-38) with 11:59 remaining in the contest.
- VCU took its only lead of the contest (63-62) at the 3:52 mark, but Texas answered by scoring five consecutive points and did not trail again.
- UT hit 51.0% (26-51) from the floor, including a season-high 43.8% (7-16) from 3-point range on the night.
Mohamed Bamba
- Registered his second double-double (13 points, 13 rebounds) of the year (7 games)
- Set a career high in rebounds and added 4 blocks (one shy of his career high)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the fourth time this year
- Reached double figures in rebounds for the fifth time this season
- Has registered at least 2 blocks in each of his first seven contests to start his collegiate career (has 28 total in his first 7 games)
Eric Davis Jr.
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the second time this season (8 games) and 25th time in his career (74 games)
- Tied his season high in scoring and set a season high in free throws made (3-4)
- Hit two free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the win and provide the final margin of victory (71-67)
Andrew Jones
- Set a career high in points (19) and tied his career high in 3-pointers made (4-6). His previous career high in scoring was 18 points (twice).
- Reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time this season (8 games) and 29th time in his career (41 games)
Dylan Osetkowski
- Reached double figures in scoring (17 points) for the seventh time this season (8 games)
- Set a season high in 3-pointers made (3-6)
Kerwin Roach II
- Had a season-high 7 assists (one shy of his career high) against 3 turnovers in 34 minutes
