The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
4-0,0-0Big 12
Louisville
2-2,0-0ACC
No. 19/17 Men's Basketball beats Louisville at the buzzer, 81-80
11.19.2023 | Men's Basketball
Abmas knocks down jumper with 0.4 seconds left to secure the victory on Sunday afternoon in Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK — Graduate guard Max Abmas hit a jumper from the right elbow with 0.4 seconds remaining to lift No. 19/17 Texas (4-0) to an 81-80 victory over Louisville (2-2) on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. With the win, the Longhorns advance to face No. 5/4 UConn (4-0) in the championship game of the Saatva Empire Classic on Monday (6 p.m. CT/ESPNU).
Abmas had 14 points during the contest while fighting through a difficult shooting night (6-19 FG, 2-10 threes). But with the Longhorns trailing 80-79 and in possession of the ball with seven seconds left after forcing a shot-clock violation, Abmas delivered in the clutch with his game-winner.
Graduate Kadin Shedrick posted a career-best 27 points (career-high 11-of-15 field goals), seven rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes. His previous career high was 20 points while playing at Virginia on March 5, 2022 in a contest at Louisville. Graduate Ithiel Horton tallied 10 points (5-11 FG) and three assists without a turnover in 30 minutes, and graduate Brock Cunningham added a game-high nine rebounds (four offensive) to go along with eight points, three assists, two steals and one blocks in 31 minutes.
Louisville grabbed a 5-4 advantage following a Brandon Huntley-Hadfield three-pointer at the 17:00 mark. The Longhorns responded with a 12-2 run over the next 4:37 to build a 16-7 cushion after a Horton jumper with 13:23 remaining. The Cardinals used a 7-0 spurt to trim the margin to 16-14 following a pair of Ty-Laur Johnson free throws at the 11:59 mark.
Louisville took a 31-30 advantage after a Tre White jumper with 4:49 left, before back-to-back baskets from Horton and Dillon Mitchell gave the Longhorns a 34-31 cushion at the 4:00 mark. A pair of Johnson free throws tied the contest at 35-35 with 2:11 left, and Texas closed the half with a 6-3 run capped by an Abmas layup with three seconds remaining to take a 41-38 halftime lead. The Longhorns converted 57.6-percent (19-33) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
The Cardinals took a 48-44 advantage following a pair of Skyy Clark free throws at the 16:53 mark. Texas scored six-straight points to take a 50-48 lead after a Horton layup with 14:38 left. A pair of J.J. Traynor free throws tied the contest at 54-54 at the 11:24 mark, before Texas used a 5-0 spurt to build a 59-54 cushion following an Abmas layup with 9:36 remaining.
A pair of Chendall Weaver free throws gave the Longhorns a 69-65 lead at the 4:38 mark, but a Clark three-point play cut the deficit to 69-68 with 4:19 left and the margin did not get above two points the rest of the way. After a pair of Cunningham free throws gave Texas a 78-77 advantage with 1:33 left, Clark answered with a deep three-pointer to put Louisville in front 80-78 at the 1:21 mark. Mitchell hit 1-of-2 free throws to pull the Longhorns to within 80-79 with 59 seconds left. Texas forced a shot-clock violation with seven seconds remaining to set up its final offensive possession and Abmas' game-winner.
Texas returns to action when it faces No. 5/4 UConn (4-0) in the championship game of the Saatva Empire Classic on Monday, Nov. 20. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central (7 p.m. Eastern) at Madison Square Garden, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPNU.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#19/17 Texas 81, Louisville 80
November 19, 2023
Madison Square Garden (New York, N.Y.)
Attendance: 19,147
Team Notes
- Texas is 4-0 to start the season for the second-straight year (started 6-0 in 2022-23).
- Tonight's contest featured 21 lead changes and 14 ties.
- The Longhorns improved to 2-4 in the all-time series against Louisville.
- Texas has reached the 80-point mark in each of its first four games this season.
- UT posted a 16-4 margin in points off turnovers, a 48-30 advantage in points in the paint and a 14-2 edge in fast-break points.
- The Longhorns tallied 12 assists against just five turnovers on the night.
- Texas converted 57.6-percent (19-33) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes while building a 41-38 halftime lead.
- Reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the fourth time this year (4 games) and 116th time in his career (127 games)
- Hit the game-winning jumper with 0.4 seconds remaining
- Recorded a game-high nine rebounds (four offensive), eight points (2-4 FG, 4-4 FT), three assists without a turnover, two steals and one blocked shot in 31 minutes
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the third time this year (4 games) and 63rd time in his career (106 games)
- Set his career high in scoring (27 points), previous: 20 at Louisville on March 5, 2022
- Set his career high in field goals made (11-15), previous: 8 (twice)
- Tied his career high in steals (3), set four times previously
- Topped the 20-point mark for the first time this year (4 games) and second time in his career (80 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the third time this year and 25th time in his career
- Set season highs in rebounds (7) and minutes (27)
