The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
11-5, 2-2
TCU
13-3, 1-3
Men's Basketball outlasts No. 16/16 TCU in 99-98 double-overtime victory
01.11.2018 | Men's Basketball
Three Longhorns finished with career-high marks in the dramatic win.
AUSTIN, Texas – Three Longhorns recorded career-high marks as Texas Men's Basketball outlasted No. 16/16 TCU, 99-98, in a double-overtime victory on Wednesday night at the Erwin Center. Junior guard Eric Davis Jr. led Texas with a career-high 22 points, freshman forward Jericho Sims added a career-high 14 points, and freshman guard Matt Coleman finished with a career-high 12 assists.
Davis Jr.'s 22 points came on 8-of-15 shooting, including a 4-of-9 mark from the three-point line, and he added three rebounds. Sims scored his 14 points on a 6-of-8 mark from the field and knocked down the go-ahead free throw with five seconds remaining.
Coleman posted his first double-double of the season, adding 17 points, five rebounds and three steals to his 12 assists. His 12 assists were just two shy of the UT freshman single-game record (14 by T.J. Ford in 2001-02).
Junior forward Dylan Osetkowski and freshman Mohamed Bamba rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Longhorns with 20 and 10, respectively. Osetkowski finished 9-of-11 from the free-throw line and was 5-of-10 from the field, while adding six rebounds, two assists and one steal. Ten of his 20 points came during the two overtime periods. Bamba led the Longhorns in rebounds with nine and in blocks with five, finishing 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
The Longhorns were 34-of-60 (56.7%) from the field and outscored TCU 42-30 in the paint. The Texas defense didn't allow a single fast-break point from the Horned Frogs.
UT raced out to an early 18-5 lead after a steal and layup from sophomore guard Jacob Young at the 15:29 mark. TCU responded with nine straight points over a three-minute stretch to trim the Texas advantage to four (18-14).
A 3-pointer from Davis Jr. put UT on top 26-19 with 8:22 remaining in the first half. The Longhorns led by just two (30-28) at the 4:54 mark, but a 9-0 run fueled by six straight from Sims extended the lead back to double-digits (39-28) for Texas with 3:09 to play. Bamba concluded the scoring in the first half with a pair of free throws to give Texas a 43-33 lead at the break.
Sims led the Longhorns in the first half with 11 points, while Coleman added six points and eight assists. Texas shot 63 percent in first half on 17-of-27 shooting from the field.
A Bamba putback forced another TCU timeout at the 16:21 mark, as Texas pulled ahead 51-38 early in the second half. The Longhorns led by six (54-48) after a 7-0 spurt from TCU, but a Young 3-pointer and traditional three-point play from Osetkowski on consecutive possessions stretched the Texas lead back to double-digits (60-50) with 12 minutes to go.
A five-minute field goal drought for UT allowed the Horned Frogs to claim their first lead of the game at 66-65 with 6:21 remaining in regulation. Coleman hit a pair from the charity stripe, and Osetkowski connected from short range as Texas regained the lead (71-68) with under five minutes to play.
UT pulled ahead 77-73 after Davis Jr. beat the shot-clock buzzer from deep at the 1:07 mark. TCU quickly responded with two free throws and evened the scoring on their next possession at 77 with 10 seconds to go. The Longhorns missed a shot at the horn to head into overtime for the second time in three games.
The Longhorns trailed by four (85-81) after TCU connected from beyond the arc with 2:10 remaining in the first extra period. Osetkowski was fouled down low and hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 85-83 and on the following possession, Davis. Jr knocked down a jumper as Texas trailed, 86-85. A block from Bamba on the defensive end with 30 seconds to play led to a Longhorn timeout and Osetkowski hit a 3-pointer with just seven seconds remaining in overtime. The Horned Frogs knocked down a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to send the contest to double overtime.
Two free throws from Osetkowski brought UT even at 94-94 with 2:06 to play in the second overtime. A Coleman lay-in with 38 seconds left tied the contest once again at 98. TCU missed a jumper with 10 seconds left, and Davis Jr. grabbed the rebound and saved it to Sims who was fouled and sent to the free throw line. Sims hit 1-of-2 free throws to give the Longhorns a 99-98 lead with five seconds left. TCU missed a layup at the buzzer as Texas picked up a 99-98 double overtime victory.
Kenrich Williams paced TCU with 26 points.
Texas will be back on the court to face Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. on Saturday, Jan. 13. Tip-off at Gallagher-Iba Arena is set for 4 p.m. Central, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNews.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas 99, #16/16 TCU 98 (2 OT)
January 10, 2018
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 9,736
Team Notes
- Texas posted its first win against an AP Top 25 opponent since a 76-63 home victory against No. 3 Oklahoma on Feb. 29, 2016. The win snapped a 12-game losing streak against AP Top 25 opponents.
- UT improved to 108-65 in the all-time series against TCU. Texas has won 13 of the last 16 and 17 of the last 21 meetings against the Horned Frogs. The Longhorns improved to 64-20 against TCU in games played in Austin.
- This marked UT's fourth overtime game during the current 2017-18 season. Texas improved to 2-2 in OT games this year. The Longhorns improved to 50-52 all-time in overtime contests.
- This marked the first double-overtime game for the Longhorns since an 89-86 Texas home win in double overtime against Iowa State on Feb. 13, 2013.
- The Longhorns improved to 2-3 all-time in overtime games against TCU.
- UT improved to 494-121 all-time in games at the Erwin Center. Texas improved to 222-38 at the Erwin Center in the last 16 seasons (dating to the start of the 2002-03 season). UT is 31-12 at home during the Shaka Smart era (7-2 this season).
- All 7 UT players who saw action tonight scored at least 8 points. Five Longhorns reached double figures in scoring. Four Texas players saw at least 41 minutes of action.
- Texas posted a 7-0 margin in blocked shots (101-40 now on the season). UT has registered at least 7 blocks in 8 of its first 16 games.
- Sophomore guard Andrew Jones has been diagnosed with leukemia. The Longhorns wore a temporary patch that read "AJ1" on their jerseys to show support for Jones and his family.
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the 11th time this year (15 games)
- Added 5 blocked shots and has registered at least 4 blocks in 14 of his first 15 games and at least 2 blocks in all 15 contests.
- Recorded his first collegiate double-double (17 points, 12 assists)
- Set a career high in assists and minutes (49)
- His 12 assists were just 2 shy of the UT freshman single-game record (14 by T.J. Ford vs. Arizona on Nov. 17, 2001)
- His 17 points were 2 shy of his season high (19 vs. Gonzaga on Nov. 26)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time this year (16 games)
- Set a career high in points (22), field goals made (8-15) and minutes (41). Previous career highs were 19 points (vs. Texas A&M on Nov. 25, 2015), 6 FG made (seven times previously) and 37 minutes (vs. Texas Tech on Feb. 1, 2017).
- Reached the 20-point mark for the first time in his career (80 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time this year (14 games) and for the 28th time in his career
- Set a season high in three-pointers made (4-9)
- Posted 7 of his 22 points in the two overtime periods (3-3 FG, 1-1 threes)
- Made his second straight start
- Set a career high in minutes (30)
- Topped the 20-point mark (20 points) for the third time this year (16 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 13th time this year
- Posted 10 of his 20 points in the two overtime periods (1-2 FG, 1-1 threes, 7-8 FT)
- Set a career high in minutes (49)
- Made his second collegiate start and first since Nov. 14 vs. New Hampshire
- Posted career highs in scoring (14 points), field goals made (6-8) and minutes (41). Previous career highs were 9 points (vs. Louisiana Tech on Dec. 16), 4 FG made (twice) and 21 minutes (twice).
- In 16 minutes of action in the first half alone, he set career highs in points (11) and field goals made (5-6).
- Reached double figures in scoring for the first time in his career (16 games)
- Hit 1 of 2 free throws with 5 seconds remaining to break a 98-98 tie and proved to be the game-winning point
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS
Head Coach Shaka Smart
Opening statement: First thing I want to say is, I'm really appreciative of people that reached out and sent their prayers and well-wishes for (guard) Andrew (Jones) around the country. We're going to need a great deal of that. He's obviously just starting his fight. There's nobody I know that's a stronger fighter than him. All game long I was thinking about him and what he would say to the guys, to our team, and I'm really proud of the way that our guys followed an approach and a mindset of playing for each other and playing for Andrew.
On tonight being about more than basketball: Obviously, it's been a very emotional time and our guys, all of our guys. They really love each other, but Andrew's a guy that holds a very special place in the hearts of all of our players and staff and he's particularly close with a lot of our guys – especially close. There were a lot of emotions there, but obviously, we had a game to play against TCU and our guys did a good job channeling their feelings. As we talked about last night as a team, we had a very, very important why. We always talk about, "Why do you play, why do the things you do," and our why was very, very important tonight.
On what he expected heading into the game: I had no idea … we had a meeting last night in the dorm and at that point we told our guys what the diagnosis was. Leaving that meeting, we had guys that weren't just in tears, they were wailing, so I said, "We just have to support these guys and be there for them," and we didn't really know what was going to happen today. When the coaches left the room, they all got together and the said, "We gotta win this game for Andrew, we have to play for him." That was their approach and that's a big part of why we won.
On the performance of freshman guard Matt Coleman: That's the guy we recruited. It's hard because he has a lot of responsibility for our team and he almost never came out (of the game) tonight. At the start of the year our point guards, we have three of them. Two of those guys weren't playing tonight, so we knew that he wasn't going to get a lot of breaks. I thought his aggressiveness was good for the first three quarters of the game. He got a little tentative as the second half wore on, but for him to get 17 (points), 12 assists, it is huge and he's going to continue to get better.
On the performance of junior guard Eric Davis Jr.: He stepped up and he wanted the ball. He really wanted the ball, which was huge. We got down in, I think it was the first overtime, and he made a couple big, big plays. I'll tell you what play was as big as any was when he drove and kicked to (junior forward Dylan Osetkowski) and D.O. hit the three in the corner, which was a really unselfish play and the right basketball play. I'm happy for him because he's been really up and down and I've been pleading with him, especially with our situation with a couple of guys not playing, "We need you E, we need your leadership, we need you to focus on the guys around you," and I thought he really battled up today. He was down after regulation ended because he felt like he had given up the basket that allowed them to tie it up, but he was able to find more.
Freshman Forward Jericho Sims
On what this game can do for his confidence: I think that after the Baylor game, even though we took a loss, it was a big step for me. This game, playing 41 minutes, was an even greater step. Like Matt said, we were just out there trying to play for someone who couldn't be with us.
Junior Forward Dylan Osetkowski
On describing the emotions of this day: It's been an emotional rollercoaster. I think everybody left everything they could on the line tonight and that was for one reason. That was a big win for us.
On playing 49 minutes: I think I had a triple or quadruple overtime game back when I was playing at Tulane, but I'm not sure how many minutes I played. I think I can speak for everybody up here and say that it didn't matter how long it was going to take. We just wanted to get out with a win. 49 minutes. 55 minutes. It didn't matter.
Freshman Guard Matt Coleman
On playing with more joy: A lot of what went into it was playing for something that was bigger than just myself. For Texas, it's bigger than basketball with everything that's going on with our teammate Andrew Jones. When we watched tape, Coach Smart just told me I just needed to play aggressive, confident and loose. He told me that the joy that I bring affects others, and I think that it affected the guys tonight and we got the job done.
On their determination to win tonight: We said in the huddle during every timeout that we're going to win this game and we found a way.
Junior Guard Eric Davis Jr.:
On his postgame embrace with Coach Smart: It was just an amazing feeling. TCU is a great team. We battled and it was a dog fight. As you know, we have a situation going on with our team, so it was an emotional game for us. From that standpoint, we really needed this win and also because we were 1-2 in the conference coming into the game. Coach Smart and I have been through a lot. Ups and downs. Highs and lows. It was a good win, and we just have to keep it going.
On the message he had written on his shoes for Andrew Jones: I just wanted everybody in the building to realize that this wasn't about us. It was about him. He's fighting a different battle, but we still have to fight. I just wanted to show everyone that it's deeper than basketball.
On seeing Coach Smart so emotional after the win: This one was special. Not just for him, but for everyone individually and us as a team.
TCU
Head Coach Jamie Dixon
On the game: (It was a ) hard-fought game, double overtime, and exciting to watch, but disappointing for us. They had some guys really step up. It was a team effort on their end. I was impressed with our guys and how we battled back. Defense is our problem right now. We know it. This league is going to have games like this. We are a team that is going to get better, I'm sure of that.
On how the second half unfolded: We wish we could have been better, but we had two turnovers in the second half and nine in the first half. We passed the ball and for the most part, made good decisions.
On Jaylen Fisher's absence in first half: He played good in the second half. It was good to see him play really well in the second half.
Senior Guard Kenrich Williams
On how many close losses they can sustain: I don't think we can sustain anymore. We have to put two halves together and finish the game. That's our main thing right now.
On being a senior and responsibilities that come with it: As a senior and a leader on this team, it's my job to get the team rallied up for the next game. We are going to sit on this for 24 hours, but the next day we are going to prepare for our next game versus OU.
On what he saw out of Texas tonight: Emotionally, I knew that we were going to come in and play hard. That's about it. I knew they would come in and play hard.
Senior Forward Vladimir Brodziansky
On if he finds comfort in these close losses: It hurts even more. All these close losses, we have to learn how to finish games.
On where TCU is falling short on defense: We just have to bring more energy, play together, help each other and just play hard.
