The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
6-1,0-0Big 12
UTRGV
4-5,0-0WAC
No. 7/8 Men's Basketball defeats UTRGV, 88-58
12.03.2021 | Men's Basketball
Christian Bishop records a game-high 17 points, as the Longhorns pull away in the second half.
AUSTIN, Texas — Senior Christian Bishop recorded a game-high and season-best 17 points to lead No. 7/8 Texas (6-1) to an 88-58 win against UTRGV (4-5) on Friday night at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns posted a 42-17 scoring margin in the second half to pull away for the decisive victory.
Texas converted 50.8-percent from the floor (31-61), including a 10-of-24 mark (.417) from three-point range, and posted 19 assists on 31 field goals made against just 10 turnovers. The Longhorns tallied 12 steals and limited UTRGV to eight assists against 22 turnovers while registering a 27-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
Bishop hit 4-of-7 field goals and a collegiate career-best 9-of-9 free throws while adding two steals in 14 minutes. Senior Timmy Allen (6-7 FG) and junior Tre Mitchell (6-10 FG, collegiate career-best five assists without a turnover) each tallied 13 points, and senior Marcus added 11 points and four assists without a turnover.
Tied at 2-2 just 35 seconds into the contest, the Longhorns used an 11-4 spurt over the next three minutes to gain a 13-6 advantage following a Jase Febres three-pointer with 16:25 remaining. After a Mike Adewunmi three-point play trimmed the deficit to 27-22 at the 9:40 mark, Texas scored eight-consecutive points to increase its advantage to 35-22 following a Brock Cunningham three-pointer with 7:28 left.
Allen converted a driving layup to give the Longhorns a 44-30 lead at the 3:58 mark, but the Vaqueros closed the half on an 11-2 run to close the gap to 46-41 at the break.
Texas seized control of the contest by scoring six-straight points during the opening 50 seconds of the second half to build a 52-41 cushion at the 19:10 mark. The Longhorns used a 33-5 run, that included a stretch of 19 consecutive points for Texas, over the first 11:23 of the second half to increase their advantage to 79-46 following an Allen layup with 8:37 remaining. The Vaqueros could not get the margin below 24 points for the rest of the evening.
UT limited UTRGV to 31.6-percent field goal shooting (6-19), including a 1-of-8 mark (.125) from three-point range, in the final 20 minutes.
Texas returns to action when it travels to face No. 25/nr Seton Hall on Thursday, Dec. 9. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Central (6:30 p.m. Eastern) at the Prudential Center, and the game will be televised nationally by FS1.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#7/8 Texas 88, UTRGV 58
December 3, 2021
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,865
Team Notes
- UT moved to 8-0 in the all-time series against UTRGV.
- Texas improved to 539-140 all-time in the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns are 267-57 at the Erwin Center in the last 20 seasons (dating to the start of the 2002-03 season), including a 5-0 mark in 2021-22.
- The Longhorns registered a 42-17 scoring margin in the second half. Texas limited UTRGV to 31.6-percent FG shooting (6-19), including a 1-of-8 mark (.125) from three-point range, in the final 20 minutes.
- Texas posted a 27-6 advantage in points off turnovers and a 34-9 margin in bench scoring.
- The Longhorns registered 19 assists on 31 field goals made against just 10 turnovers on the night.
- UTRGV was held to just eight assists against 22 turnovers.
- Texas posted 12 steals during the victory, marking the fifth time this season in the first seven games that Texas has reached double digits in steals.
- The Longhorns converted 10-of-24 (.417) from three-point range, marking the third time in the first seven games that Texas had reached double figures in three-pointers made.
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the sixth time at Texas (seven games) and 77th time in his collegiate career (92 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (game-high 17 points) for the third time at Texas (seven games) and 42nd time in his collegiate career (97 games)
- Set a collegiate career high in free throws made (9-9), previous: six, twice
- Set season highs in points (17, just two shy of his collegiate career high of 19, twice) and steals (two)
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the fourth time at Texas (seven games) and 68th time in his collegiate career (99 games)
- Tied his career high in three-point field goals made (2-2), previous: two, three times
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the fourth time this year (seven games) and 45th time in his collegiate career (51 games)
- Set a season high and tied his collegiate best in assists (five) without a turnover; previously had five at UMass vs. St. Joseph's (Jan. 29, 2020)
