The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
10-2,0-0Big 12
UNC Greensboro
9-4,0-0SoCon
No. 21/24 Men's Basketball defeats UNC Greensboro, 72-37
12.29.2023 | Men's Basketball
Hunter records a season-high 23 points and seven assists on Friday night.
AUSTIN, Texas — Junior point guard Tyrese Hunter registered a season-high 23 points and tied a season high with seven assists against just one turnover to lead No. 21/24 Texas (10-2) to an impressive 72-37 victory over UNC Greensboro (9-4) on Friday night in Moody Center. The Longhorns led from start-to-finish for the fourth time this season, including the third time in their last four contests.
The Texas defense proved to be the story of the night. The Longhorns held UNCG to a season-low 37 points (previous low was 58) on 29.8-percent (14-47) field goal shooting, including a 3-of-19 (.158) mark from three-point range. The Spartans entered the contest ranked No. 13 nationally in three-pointers made per game (10.5) and No. 14 nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.395).
Hunter converted 8-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-4 threes, and 4-of-4 free throws and added six rebounds and one blocked shot in 29 minutes. Graduate forward Kadin Shedrick posted 11 points (5-6 FG), four rebounds and one steal in 20 minutes, and graduate guard Max Abmas recorded 10 points (4-5 FT), three rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes. Sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell tied his career high with four blocked shots.
The Longhorns scored the game's first seven points, capped by a Hunter layup in transition at the 18:38 mark. UNCG trimmed the deficit to 10-5 following a Keyshaun Langley jumper with 16:19 remaining, before Texas went on an 11-0 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes to build a 21-5 cushion after a Hunter jumper at the 12:53 mark.
The Spartans responded with a 7-0 spurt over the next five minutes to cut the margin to 21-12 following a Joryam Saizonou free throw with 7:13 left. UNCG got within 27-22 after a Keyshaun Langley three-pointer at the 4:17 mark, but the Longhorns held the Spartans scoreless for the remainder of the half and closed the period on a 9-0 run to build a 36-22 advantage at the break. Hunter had 16 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 threes), five assists without a turnover and four rebounds in 18 minutes of action in the first half. The Longhorns held UNCG to 22 points on 34.6-percent (9-26) shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-11 (.182) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes.
Texas opened the second half with a 21-3 run over the first 8:17 and increased its cushion to 32 points (57-25) following a Dylan Disu three-pointer with 11:43 remaining. The margin did not dip below 30 points for the remainder of the contest, as the Longhorns built the lead to as much as 38 points (72-34) after a Devon Pryor three-pointer at the 1:19 mark. Texas posted a 36-15 scoring margin over the final 20 minutes and held UNCG to 23.8-percent (5-21) field goal shooting, including a 1-of-8 (.125) mark from three-point range.
Texas returns to the court when it hosts UTA on Monday, Jan. 1. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#21/24 Texas 72, UNC Greensboro 37
December 29, 2023
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,616
Team Notes
- Texas improved to 24-1 all-time in games played at Moody Center, including an 8-0 mark this season.
- This marked the first meeting in men's basketball between Texas and UNC Greensboro.
- UT led from start-to-finish for the fourth time this season (12 games) and the third time in the last four contests.
- UNCG entered the contest ranked No. 13 nationally in three-pointers made per game (10.5) and No. 14 nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.395). Texas held the Spartans to 3-of-19 (.158) from three-point range on the night.
- The Longhorns forced opponent team season lows in points (37), field goals made (14), field goals attempted (47), three-point field goal percentage (.158), free throws made (6) and free throw percentage (.353).
- The Longhorns held UNCG to 37 points (previous low for UNCG was 58 vs. UIC on Nov. 26) on 29.8-percent (14-47) field goal shooting. UT allowed just six assists and forced 16 turnovers.
- Texas converted 10-of-23 (.435) from three-point range on the evening. This marked the fifth time this season (12 games) that the Longhorns have reached double digits in three-pointers made.
- UT registered a 20-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
- The Longhorns limited UNCG to 22 points on 34.6-percent (9-26) FG shooting, including a 2-of-11 (.182) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes while building a 36-22 halftime cushion.
- UT posted a 36-15 scoring margin in the second half. The Longhorns held UNCG to 15 points on 23.8-percent (5-21) field goal shooting, including a 1-of-8 (.125) mark from three-point range, over the final 20 minutes.
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the 12th time this year (12 games) and 124th time in his career (135 games)
- Has now reached double figures in scoring in 34 consecutive games
- Moved into No. 22 on the NCAA all-time Division I career scoring list and now has 2,767 points in 135 games (passed Markus Howard of Marquette at 2,761). Next up at No. 21 is J.J. Redick (Duke) at 2,769.
- Set his season high in three-point FG made (3-4)
- Set his season high in scoring (23 points), previous: 19 vs. LSU (Dec. 16)
- Tied his season high in assists (7), also had 7 vs. UConn (Nov. 20), and committed just one turnover in 29 minutes
- Tied his season high in FG made (8-12), also had 8 vs. LSU (Dec. 16)
- Tied his season high in three-point FG made (3-4), also had 3 vs. Rice (Nov. 15)
- Topped the 20-point mark for the first time this year (12 games) and seventh time in his career (85 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 10th time this year and 50th time in his career
- In 18 minutes of action in the first half, he recorded 16 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 threes, 2-2 FT), five assists without a turnover and four rebounds
- Tied his career high in blocks (4), also had 4 vs. Texas State (Nov. 30, 2023)
- Registered a team-best plus-minus total of plus-34 in 25 minutes of action
- Recorded his first collegiate points on a three-pointer with 1:19 remaining in the contest
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the seventh time this year (11 games) and 29th time in his career (87 games)
