The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
11-2,5-1Big 12
Kansas State
5-9,1-5Big 12
No. 4/4 Men’s Basketball defeats K-State, 82-67
01.16.2021 | Men's Basketball
Kamaka Hepa ties his career high with 15 points, while Andrew Jones adds a game-high 19 in the home win.
AUSTIN, Texas — Junior forward Kamaka Hepa tied his career high with 15 points to lead No. 4/4 Texas (11-2, 5-1) to an 82-67 victory against Kansas State on Saturday night at the Frank Erwin Center. Hepa, who had seen action in just three of UT's first 12 games and played a combined total of 8:15, knocked down a career-best 5-of-8 from three-point range and added three rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 26 minutes.
The Longhorns had just eight available scholarship players for Saturday's contest, as Greg Brown, Brock Cunningham and Kai Jones were not available for the game. Junior guard Andrew Jones tallied a game-high 19 points (7-12 FG, 4-8 threes) and six rebounds. Senior forward Jericho Sims posted 14 points (6-7 FG) and seven boards, while junior guard Courtney Ramey added 14 points (5-7 FG, 3-3 FT) and a season-high nine assists against just two turnovers.
The Longhorns jumped out to a 10-2 lead following a Ramey jumper with 15:34 remaining and never trailed in the contest. Tied at 12-12 at the 12:59 mark, Texas went on an 18-0 run over the next seven minutes to build a 30-12 advantage after an Andrew Jones three-pointer with 5:57 left.
Texas converted 57.1-percent (16-28) from the floor, including a 7-of-15 (.467) mark from three-point range, and held the Wildcats to 30-percent (9-30) field goal shooting, including a 4-of-12 (.333) mark from beyond the arc, while building a 44-24 halftime cushion. Jones had 13 of his 19 points and Ramey registered 12 of his 14 points in the opening half.
The Longhorns opened the second half with a 10-2 spurt to build a 54-26 advantage following a basket at the 17:06 mark by senior forward Royce Hamm Jr. UT's lead did not dip below 20 points until the final two minutes of the contest.
Texas returns to action when it travels to face Iowa State (2-7, 0-5 Big 12) on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT at Hilton Coliseum, and the game will be streamed nationally by Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#4/4 Texas 82, Kansas State 67
January 16, 2021
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 0
Team Notes
- Texas has now won four of the last five meetings in the series and improved to 19-22 all-time against K-State. UT is 11-9 against the Wildcats in games played in Austin.
- The Longhorns scored the opening points and led from start-to-finish for the sixth time this season.
- Texas improved to 260-54 at the Erwin Center in the last 19 seasons (dating back to the start of the 2002-03 season). UT is 69-28 at home during the Shaka Smart era (6-2 this season).
- UT converted 52.5-percent (31-59) from the field, including a 12-of-31 (.387) mark from three-point range, on the night.
- Texas tied a team season high in field goals made (31-59), also had 31 vs. UTRGV (Nov. 25)
- The 12 three-point field goals made were one shy of UT's season high (13 vs. Texas Tech on Wednesday).
- UT posted 17 assists (one shy of its season high, 18 vs. Davidson on Nov. 30) against just 10 turnovers.
- The Longhorns hit 57.1-percent (16-28) from the floor, including a 7-of-15 (.467) mark from three-point range, in the first half. UT limited K-State to 30.0-percent (9-30), including a 4-of-12 (.333) mark from beyond the arc, while building a 44-24 halftime advantage.
- The Longhorns had just eight available scholarship players. Greg Brown, Brock Cunningham and Kai Jones were not available for tonight's game.
- Saw his first game action of the season and first since Feb. 8, 2020 vs. Texas Tech
- Registered 6 points (2-6 threes), 5 rebounds, 3 assists without a turnover, 2 blocked shots and 1 steal in 22 minutes
- Tied his career high in assists (3)
- His 5 rebounds were one shy of his career high (6, twice)
- Tied his career high in scoring (15 points), also had 15 at Oklahoma State on Jan. 15, 2020
- Set a career high in three-point field goals made (5-8), previous: 3, three times
- Reached double figures in scoring for the first time this year (4 games), third time in his career (55 games) and first since he had 15 at Oklahoma State on Jan. 15, 2020
- Made his first start of the season and 12th of his career
- Marked his first start since Feb. 19, 2020 vs. TCU
- Entering the contest, Hepa had seen a total of 8:15 of game action on the season (played in three of UT's first 12 contests) and recorded 3 points and 1 rebound. He played 25:42 and registered 15 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal tonight.
- Reached double figures in scoring (game-high 19 points) for the 10th time this year (12 games) and 54th time in his career (88 games)
- Tied a season high in three-point field goals made (4-8)
- Tied his season high in steals (2)
- Reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the 12th time this year (13 games) and 49th time in his career (81 games)
- Set his season high in assists (9) against just 2 turnovers, previous: 7 vs. UTRGV (Nov. 25)
- His 9 assists were one shy of his career high (10 at Baylor on Feb. 27, 2019)
- Reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the fifth time this year (13 games) and 26th time in his career (106 games)
- Set his season high in field goals made (6-7), previous: 5, three times
- Registered a team-best plus-minus total of +24 in 24 minutes played
