The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
9-2,0-0Big 12
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
6-6,0-0Southland
No. 19/22 Men's Basketball tops Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 71-55
12.22.2023 | Men's Basketball
Mitchell posts his third-straight double-double with 14 points and 13 boards to pace the Longhorns on Friday afternoon.
AUSTIN, Texas — Sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell recorded a double-double with 14 points and tied his career high with 13 rebounds to lead No. 19/22 Texas (9-2) to a 71-55 home victory against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (6-6) on Friday afternoon in Moody Center. Mitchell, who tallied just one double-double in 38 games as a freshman last year, notched a double-double for the third-straight game and fifth time in UT's first 11 contests this season.
Mitchell converted 5-of-7 field goals and 4-of-5 free throws while adding one assist and one steal in 30 minutes. Graduate guard Max Abmas posted a game-high 17 points (5-10 FG, season-high 6-7 FT) and five assists in 37 minutes, while junior guard Tyrese Hunter registered 11 points, a season-high seven rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes. Graduate forward Dylan Disu recorded 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-1 threes), four boards and three blocks in 22 minutes, and graduate forward Brock Cunningham posted a season-high 10 points (3-6 FG, 2-4 threes, 2-3 FT), four rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 31 minutes.
Texas had five players reach double figures in scoring for the fourth time in its first 11 contests this year. The Longhorns held Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to 55 points on 35.6-percent (21-59) field goal shooting, including a 4-of-18 (.222) mark from three-point range, on the afternoon. UT posted a 40-32 rebound margin and hit 15-of-19 (.789) from the free throw line, while the Islanders converted just 9-of-14 (.643) free throws.
The Islanders took a 4-2 advantage following a Stephen Giwa layup at the 17:38 mark, but that would be the final lead of the game for A&M-Corpus Christi. The Longhorns used an 11-2 run over the next four minutes to grab a 13-6 cushion after a Mitchell layup with 13:48 remaining. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi responded with a 7-0 spurt to even the score at 13-13 following a Garry Clark jumper at the 12:09 mark.
Texas answered with a 12-4 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes to take a 25-17 advantage after an Abmas layup with 7:30 remaining. The Longhorns increased their cushion to as much as 12 points (31-19) following a pair of Mitchell free throws at the 5:11 mark before taking a 35-24 advantage into the break. UT limited the Islanders to 37-percent (10-27) field goal shooting, including a 2-of-9 (.222) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes.
A Marion Humphrey free throw trimmed the margin to 40-32 at the 16:34 mark. The Longhorns answered by scoring six-straight points to build a 46-32 advantage following a Cunningham three-pointer with 15:39 left. Texas took a 54-42 lead after an Abmas jumper at the 9:32 mark, before the Islanders used a 7-0 spurt over the next two minutes to cut the deficit to 54-49 following a Dayne Prim layup with 7:17 remaining.
A Garry Clark three-pointer trimmed the margin to 59-53 at the 4:51 mark, but the Longhorns closed the contest with a 12-2 run to seal the victory. UT converted 54.2-percent (13-24) from the floor in the second half.
Texas is back in action when it hosts UNC Greensboro (9-3) on Friday, Dec. 29. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#19/22 Texas 71, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 55
December 22, 2023
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,704
Team Notes
- Texas improved to 23-1 all-time in games played at Moody Center.
- The Longhorns improved to a perfect 5-0 in the all-time series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
- Five Texas players reached double figures in scoring. This marked the fourth time in UT's first 11 contests this season that at least five Longhorns have reached double digits in points.
- UT limited the Islanders to 55 points on 35.6-percent (21-59) field goal shooting, including a 22.2-percent (4-18) mark from three-point range, on the afternoon. Texas allowed just seven A&M-Corpus assists (on 21 field goals made).
- The Longhorns hit 78.9-percent (15-19) from the free throw line, while the Islanders converted 64.3-percent (9-14) from the stripe.
- Texas posted a plus-8 rebound margin (40-32).
- UT tallied 16 assists on 25 made field goals during the victory.
- The Longhorns converted 54.2-percent (13-24) from the field in the second half.
- Texas limited Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to 24 points on 37.0-percent (10-27) field goal shooting, including a 2-of-9 (.222) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes while building a 35-24 halftime cushion.
- Set his season high in free throws made (6-7), previous: 4, twice
- Reached double figures in scoring (game-high 17 points) for the 11th time this year (11 games) and 123rd time in his career (134 games)
- Has now reached double figures in scoring in 33 consecutive games
- Set his season high in scoring (10 points), previous: 9 vs. LSU (Dec. 1)
- Tied his collegiate career high in blocked shots (2)
- Tied his season high in minutes (31)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the first time this year (11 games) and sixth time in his career (124 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the second time this year (2 games) and 48th time in his career (113 games)
- Registered a game-high three blocked shots in 22 minutes
- Set his season high in rebounds (7), previous: 5 vs. UConn (Nov. 20)
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the ninth time this year (11 games) and 49th time in his career (84 games)
- Registered a team-best plus-minus of plus-19 in 33 minutes
- Recorded a double-double (14 points, game-high 13 rebounds) for the third-straight game, fifth time this season (11 games) and sixth time in his career (49 games)
- Tied his career high in rebounds, also had 13 vs. Rice (Nov. 15, 2023)
- Reached double figures in points for the seventh time this year and 13th time in his career
- Reached double figures in rebounds for the fifth-straight game, seventh time this season and ninth time in his career
