The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
5-0,0-0Big 12
UTRGV
4-3,0-0WAC
No. 4/4 Men's Basketball defeats UTRGV, 91-54
11.26.2022 | Men's Basketball
Rice posts a game-high 19 points in Throwback Game at Gregory Gym as part of the Leon Black Classic.
AUSTIN, Texas — Graduate guard Sir'Jabari Rice posted a game-high 19 points to pace No. 4/4 Texas (5-0) to a 91-54 victory against UTRGV (4-3) on Saturday afternoon at historic Gregory Gymnasium in the final game of the Leon Black Classic. The Leon Black Classic honored the late Texas men's basketball player and assistant coach who also served as head coach of the Longhorns for nine seasons from 1967-76. Black passed away at the age of 89 last year.
The contest was played before a sellout crowd of 3,500 inside Gregory Gym. This marked the second straight year that the Longhorns played a regular-season contest in the historic on-campus gym. With the victory, Texas improved to 385-160 all-time in games played inside Gregory Gym.
Rice converted 8-of-13 field goals and added five assists against just one turnover and five rebounds in 25 minutes. Graduate Marcus Carr posted 18 points while hitting 6-of-11 field goals, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, in 25 minutes. Sophomore Tyrese Hunter tallied 17 points while converting 6-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, in 28 minutes.
Freshman Dillon Mitchell recorded 10 points (4-9 FG), four rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes. Senior Dylan Disu added a game-high 10 rebounds (four offensive), six points, five blocks (tied his collegiate high), four assists (set a collegiate best) and three steals in 20 minutes.
Texas limited the Vaqueros to 35.2-percent (19-54) field goal shooting, including a 1-of-9 (.111) mark from three-point range. The Longhorns allowed just six assists while forcing a season-best 22 turnovers, set a team season high with nine blocked shots and tied a season best with 12 steals. UT registered a 28-6 margin in points off turnovers and a 16-2 margin in fast-break points.
Texas opened the contest by scoring the first 10 points before a Justin Johnson free throw trimmed the deficit to 10-1 at the 16:13 mark. After a Dima Zdor layup pulled UTRGV to within 12-3 with 15:04 left, the Longhorns scored five straight points to increase their cushion to 17-3 following a Rice three-point play at the 12:04 mark.
A Will Johnston jumper narrowed the margin to 30-17 with 4:25 remaining, but the Longhorns closed the half on a 14-5 spurt to take a 44-22 advantage into the break. Texas limited the Vaqueros to 30.8-percent (8-26) shooting from the floor, including a 0-of-5 mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes. UT posted a 19-2 edge in points off turnovers and an 11-0 margin in fast-break points in the first half.
The Vaqueros closed the deficit to 21 points (64-43) after a pair of Adante' Holiman free throws with 8:41 remaining, but that was as close as UTRGV would get for the remainder of the contest. The Longhorns increased their lead to as much as 38 points (91-53) following an Arterio Morris three-pointer with 49 seconds left.
Texas returns to the court on Thursday, Dec. 1, when it hosts No. 10/8 Creighton as part of the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle. Tip is set for 6 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#4/4 Texas 91, UTRGV 54
Leon Black Classic
November 26, 2022
Gregory Gym (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 3,500 (sellout)
Team Notes
- Today's game marked the second and final game of the Leon Black Classic. The multi-team event honored the late Texas men's basketball player and assistant coach who also served as head coach of the Longhorns for nine seasons from 1967-76. Black passed away at the age of 89 last year.
- This marked the second straight year that the Longhorns played a regular-season contest in historic Gregory Gymnasium on the UT campus. With the victory, Texas improved to 385-160 all-time in games played inside Gregory Gym.
- The Longhorns held UTRGV to 54 points on 35.2-percent (19-54) FG shooting, including a 1-of-9 (.111) mark from three-point range, on the contest. Texas allowed just six assists while forcing 22 turnovers.
- Texas registered team season highs in blocked shots (9) and turnovers forced (22) and tied a season high in steals (12).
- UT registered a 28-6 advantage in points off turnovers. The Longhorns have recorded a 141-37 margin in points off turnovers in their first five games this season.
- Texas posted a 16-2 advantage in fast-break points. The Longhorns have recorded a 94-12 margin in fast-break points in their first five games this year.
- The Longhorns opened the game by scoring the first 10 points. UTRGV did not get on the board until a Justin Johnson free throw at the 16:13 mark.
- Texas limited UTRGV to 22 points on 30.8-percent (8-26) FG shooting, including a 0-of-5 mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes.
- UT tallied a 19-2 edge in points off turnovers and an 11-0 margin in fast-break points in the first half.
- Reached double figures in scoring (season-high 18 points) for the fifth time this season (5 games) and 90th time in his collegiate career (131 games)
- In two career games played inside Gregory Gym, Carr averaged 18.5 points per contest while hitting 12-of-23 field goals, including 8-of-15 from three-point range (he posted 19 points on 6-12 FG and 4-7 threes last season)
- Posted a team-best plus-minus total of plus-27 in 25 minutes played
- Set his season high in rebounds (6) in 18 minutes played
- His four free throws made (4-6) were one shy of his career high (5 vs. San Jose State on Nov. 20, 2021)
- Set his collegiate high in assists (4), previous: 3 (eight times)
- Tied his collegiate high in blocks (5), set twice previously
- Reached double figures in rebounds (10 boards) for the first time this year (5 games), second time at Texas (31 games) and the 16th time in his collegiate career (80 games)
- Added three steals and six points (3-6 FG) in 20 minutes of action
- Reached double figures in scoring (17 points) for the fifth time this year (5 games) and the 25th time in his collegiate career (40 games)
- Tied his career high in scoring (10 points)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the second time in his career (5 games)
- Set season highs in scoring (19 points) and field goals made (8-13) while tying his season high in assists (5)
- His five rebounds were one shy of his season high (6 vs. UTEP on Nov. 7)
- Reached double figures in scoring (game-high 19 points) for the fourth time this year (5 games) and the 62nd time in his collegiate career (116 games)
