The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-0,0-0Big 12
Incarnate Word
0-1,0-0Southland
No. 18/18 Men's Basketball tops Incarnate Word, 88-56
11.06.2023 | Men's Basketball
Horton recorded a team-high 17 points in Monday’s season-opening victory.
AUSTIN, Texas — Graduate guard Ithiel Horton posted a team-high 17 points to lead No. 18/18 Texas (1-0) to an 88-56 victory against Incarnate Word (0-1) in the season opener for both teams on Monday night in front of another sellout crowd at Moody Center. The Longhorns have now won 21 of their last 22 season openers and 22-straight home openers.
One of five Longhorns to reach double figures in scoring, Horton converted 6-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 free throws while adding five rebounds, three assists without a turnover and two steals in 26 minutes. Graduate guard Max Abmas posted 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 threes), five boards and three assists in 30 minutes, and graduate forward Kadin Shedrick tallied 12 points (3-3 FG, 6-7 FT), five rebounds, three blocks, three assists and one steal in 11 minutes. Junior guard Tyrese Hunter recorded 11 points (2-5 threes, 3-4 FT) and four assists in 30 minutes, and junior forward Ze'Rik Onyema added 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-4 FT), a team-high seven boards and two blocks in 18 minutes.
The Longhorns converted 50.8-percent (32-63) from the floor, including a 38.5-percent (10-26) mark from three-point range, and registered 20 assists as a team on 32 field goals made. Texas limited UIW to 56 points on 29.7-percent (19-64) from the floor, including a 17.4-percent (4-23) mark from three-point range. UT recorded a 29-0 margin in fast-break points on the night.
A Sky Wicks layup gave Incarnate Word its only lead (6-5) of the contest with 16:05 remaining. The Longhorns responded with a 21-0 run over the next six minutes to build a 26-6 advantage following a Chendall Weaver jumper at the 9:54 mark.
The Cardinals scored five-straight points to trim the deficit to 26-11 after a Shon Robinson jumper with 8:43 left. Texas answered with a 12-0 spurt over the next three-and-a-half minutes to increase its advantage to 38-11 following a Horton dunk at the 5:18 mark. The Longhorns pushed the lead to as much as 32 points (48-16) after a pair of Shedrick free throws with 45 seconds remaining, before a Davante Dennis free throw cut the margin to 48-17 at the break.
A Josiah Hammons three-pointer pulled the Cardinals to within 53-25 at the 16:44 mark, but that was as close as UIW would get the rest of the way. After a Dennis jumper cut the deficit to 56-27 with 15:50 left, the Longhorns scored seven-straight points to take a 63-27 advantage following a Brock Cunningham three-pointer at the 14:10 mark. The margin did not dip below 30 points for the remainder of the contest, and Texas increased the lead to as much as 38 points in the second half on multiple occasions.
Texas returns to action with a home contest against Delaware State on Friday, Nov. 10. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the game will be televised by Longhorn Network.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#18/18 Texas 88, Incarnate Word 56
November 6, 2023
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,763 (sellout)
Team Notes
- Texas tipped off its 118th season of intercollegiate basketball with an 88-56 home victory against Incarnate Word.
- UT improved to 98-20 all-time in season-opening games and has won 21 of its last 22 season-opening contests.
- Texas improved to 103-15 all-time in home-opening games.
- The Longhorns won their 22nd consecutive home opener.
- Texas has now played before a sellout crowd in all 18 games in Moody Center history. The Longhorns improved to 17-1 mark in contests in Moody.
- The Longhorns moved to 3-0 all-time in the series against Incarnate Word.
- Five UT players reached double figures in scoring and eight Texas players recorded at least seven points on the night.
- Five different Texas players registered a blocked shot during the contest.
- Texas converted 50.8-percent (32-63) from the floor, including a 10-of-26 (.385) mark from three-point range, on the night. The Longhorns held UIW to 56 points on 29.7-percent (19-64) FG shooting, including a 17.4-percent (4-23) mark from three-point range.
- UT registered a 29-0 margin in fast-break points, a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint and a 23-11 margin in points off turnovers on the evening.
- Texas recorded 20 assists (on 32 field goals made) against 13 turnovers. The Longhorns allowed just six assists while forcing 17 turnovers.
- UT tallied 10 steals and nine blocked shots as a team.
- The Longhorns converted 54.8-percent (17-31) from the floor in the first half. Texas held UIW to 20.6-percent (7-34) FG shooting, including a 1-of-10 (.100) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes while building a 48-17 halftime cushion.
- UT tallied an 18-1 advantage in points off turnovers and a 21-0 margin in fast-break points in the first half.
- Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the first time this year and 113th time in his career (124 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (team-high 17 points) for the first time this year and 61st time in his career (103 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the first time this year and 41st time in his career (74 games)
- Did not play (left ankle)
- Tallied a team-best plus-minus total of plus-38 in 31 minutes played
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the first time this year and 13th time in his career (62 games)
- Led the team in rebounds (7) in 18 minutes of action
- In 11:23 of game action, Shedrick registered 12 points (3-3 FG, 6-7 FT), five rebounds, three assists without a turnover, three blocked shots and one steal
- Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the first time this year and 23rd time in his career (77 games)
- In six minutes of action in the first half, Shedrick recorded a game-high 10 points (2-2 FG, 6-7 FT), three rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal and posted a plus-minus total of plus-21
