The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
18-4,7-2Big 12
Baylor
16-6,5-4Big 12
No. 10/9 Men's Basketball tops No. 11/11 Baylor, 76-71
01.31.2023 | Men's Basketball
Rice scores 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lead the Longhorns to a home win on “Big Monday.”
AUSTIN, Texas — Graduate guard Sir'Jabari Rice posted a game-high 21 points to pace No. 10/9 Texas (18-4, 7-2 Big 12) to a 76-71 victory against No. 11/11 Baylor (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) on Monday night at Moody Center. UT improved to 11-3 under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry and moved to 4-0 against AP Top 20 opponents in home games this season.
Texas has played before a sellout crowd in each of its first 13 games in Moody Center this year and improved to 12-1 in those contests. The Longhorns limited Baylor to 36.8-percent (25-68) field goal shooting, including a 30.8-percent mark (8-26) from three-point range, and claimed a 30-6 advantage in bench scoring on the night.
Rice, who had 15 of his 21 points in the second half, converted 5-of-7 field goals, including a season-best 4-of-5 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 free throws in 24 minutes. Super senior Timmy Allen posted 18 points while hitting 7-of-10 field goals and 4-of-5 free throws and added six rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes. Sophomore Tyrese Hunter tallied 13 points, four rebounds and tied his season high with three steals in 32 minutes.
The opening six minutes featured three lead changes and two ties, as a Caleb Lohner free throw evened the score at 12-12 with 14:01 remaining. Texas ran off six straight points to build an 18-12 lead following a Hunter layup at the 12:25 mark.
The Longhorns extended their cushion to as much as nine points (28-19) after an Allen jumper with 7:12 left. Baylor responded with a 10-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to trim the deficit to 30-29 following a Dale Bonner free throw at the 3:50 mark, and Texas eventually took a 38-36 lead into the break.
A Flo Thamba hook shot tied the game at 38-38 just 15 seconds into the second half, before the Longhorns used an 8-0 spurt to take a 46-38 advantage after an Allen jumper with 17:31 remaining. Texas increased its cushion to 53-44 following a Christian Bishop dunk at the 11:40 mark.
A Rice three-pointer gave the Longhorns a 68-61 lead with 3:25 left, but Baylor responded with a 5-0 run to cut the gap to 68-66 after an Adam Flagler layup at the 2:28 mark. The Bears got as close as a single point (72-71) following a Keyonte George three-point play with 50 seconds left. Marcus Carr knocked down a jumper with 27 seconds left, and Rice converted a pair of free throws with 15 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Texas returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 4 when it travels to face No. 7/6 Kansas State. Tip is set for 3 p.m. Central at Bramlage Coliseum, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#10/9 Texas 76, #11/11 Baylor 71
January 30, 2023
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,763 (sellout)
Team Notes
- UT improved to 11-3 under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry.
- The Longhorns improved to 4-0 against AP Top 20 opponents in home games at Moody Center this year (wins against No. 2 Gonzaga, No. 7 Creighton, No. 17 TCU and No. 11 Baylor).
- Texas has now had a sellout crowd in each of its first 13 contests in Moody Center this season (12-1 record).
- The Longhorns snapped a six-game losing streak to the Bears with the victory. Prior to tonight's win, the last time Texas defeated Baylor was an 84-72 victory in Austin on Feb. 6, 2019.
- UT's 18-4 record marks its best 22-game start since the 2010-11 season (19-3).
- The 7-2 record in Big 12 play marks UT's best 9-game start in league action since the 2013-14 season (7-2).
- Texas improved to 7-4 in Quad 1 games this season.
- UT claimed a 30-6 advantage in bench scoring.
- Texas recorded 14 assists against just nine turnovers on the evening.
- The Longhorns converted 53.8-percent (14-26) from the floor and hit 8-of-11 (.727) free throws in the opening 20 minutes while building a 38-36 halftime advantage.
- UT limited the Bears to 34.4-percent (11-32) field goal shooting, including a 2-of-11 (.182) mark from three-point range, in the second half.
- Reached double figures in scoring (18 points) for the 13th time this year (22 games) and 106th time in his career (141 games)
- Recorded a team-best plus-minus total of plus-13 in 29 minutes played
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the 12th time this year (22 games) and 32nd time in his career (57 games)
- Tied his season high in steals (3)
- Tied his season high in scoring (game-high 21 points), also had 21 on Saturday at Tennessee
- Set his season high in three-point field goals made (4-5), previous: 3, twice
- His four 3-point field goals were one shy of his collegiate best (5 at Dixie State on March 5, 2021)
- Topped the 20-point mark for the second-straight game, the second time this year (22 games) and 14th time in his career (133 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 12th time this season and 70th time in his career
- Converted 5-of-7 field goals, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 free throws in 24 minutes
- His 7 free throws made (7-8) were one shy of his season high (8, twice)
- His 6 rebounds were one shy of his season high (7 at Oklahoma on Dec. 31)
- In 14 minutes of action in the second half, he posted 15 points while hitting 4-of-6 field goals, including 4-of-5 threes, and 3-of-4 free throws
