The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
22-6,11-4Big 12
Iowa State
17-10,8-7Big 12
No. 8/8 Men's Basketball tops No. 23/21 Iowa State, 72-54
02.22.2023 | Men's Basketball
Hunter and Rice both record 15 points to pace the Longhorns.
AUSTIN, Texas — Sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter and graduate guard Sir'Jabari Rice both registered 15 points to lead No. 8/8 Texas (22-6, 11-4 Big 12) to a 72-54 victory over No. 23/21 Iowa State (17-10, 8-7 Big 12) on Tuesday night in Moody Center. The 54 points scored by the Cyclones marked the lowest total by Iowa State in a Big 12 game this season.
UT improved to 15-5 under Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry. Texas also moved to 5-0 in games against AP Top 25 opponents in Moody Center this season.
Hunter converted 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 free throws while adding three rebounds and a steal in 30 minutes. Rice connected on 5-of-12 field goals in 21 minutes, and graduate Marcus Carr added 13 points while hitting 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-5 three-pointers, and posted five assists against one turnover in 35 minutes. Texas tallied a 34-13 advantage in bench scoring and a 28-17 margin in points off turnovers.
The Cyclones jumped out to a 10-4 advantage following a Tre King jumper at the 15:53 mark. Texas immediately responded with a 16-0 spurt over the next four minutes to grab a 20-10 cushion after a pair of Rice free throws with 11:51 remaining. Iowa State trimmed the deficit to 25-21 following a Robert Jones jumper at the 8:08 mark, before the Longhorns went on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to build a 36-21 advantage after an Arterio Morris three-pointer with 5:10 left.
UT increased its cushion to as much as 20 points (47-27) following a Carr three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining, before a pair of Tamin Lipsey free throws cut the margin to 47-29 at the break. The Longhorns converted 54.8-percent (17-31) from the floor, including 9-of-16 (.563) from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes. UT forced 11 turnovers and posted a 21-8 advantage in points off turnovers in the first half.
The Cyclones trimmed the deficit to 54-40 following a King layup with 11:28 remaining, before Texas responded with an 8-2 spurt over the next two minutes to increase its advantage to 62-42 after a Hunter three-pointer at the 9:37 mark. Iowa State used an 8-1 run over the next five minutes to cut the margin to 63-50 following an Osun Osunniyi free throw with 4:12 left. The Longhorns sealed the victory with a 7-2 spurt over the next 90 seconds to increase their cushion to 70-52 after a Rice three-pointer at the 2:38 mark.
Texas returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 25 when it travels to face No. 9/10 Baylor. Tip is set for 1 p.m. Central at the Ferrell Center, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#8/8 Texas 72, #23/21 Iowa State 54
February 21, 2023
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 11,313 (sellout)
Team Notes
- UT improved to 15-5 under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry this season.
- Texas has now had a sellout crowd in each of its first 16 contests in Moody Center this year (15-1 record).
- The 22-6 record marks UT's best 28-game start since the 2010-11 season (24-4).
- The 11-4 conference record marks UT's best 15-game league start since the 2010-11 season (12-3).
- Texas improved to 10-6 in Quad 1 games this season. The 10 Quad 1 wins are second-most nationally (Kansas is 14-5).
- The Longhorns improved to 5-0 against AP Top 25 opponents in Moody Center this season.
- UT held the Cyclones to 54 points during the win. This marked a season-low point total in a Big 12 Conference game for the Cyclones (previous: 55 at K-State).
- Texas improved to 19-2 against Iowa State in games played in Austin. The Longhorns have now won eight straight and 14 of the last 15 meetings against the Cyclones in Austin.
- UT posted a 34-13 advantage in bench scoring, a 28-17 margin in points off turnovers and a 13-4 edge in fast-break points.
- The 12 three-pointers made (on 28 attempts) by Texas were one shy of a team season high (13 vs. Gonzaga on Nov. 16). The 12 threes made were the most by UT in a Big 12 contest this year.
- Texas allowed just eight assists while forcing 16 turnovers during the victory. UT has now forced at least 15 turnovers in 20 of its first 28 contests.
- The Longhorns converted 54.8-percent (17-31) from the floor, including a 56.3-percent mark (9-16) from three-point range, in the first half while building a 47-29 halftime advantage.
- The nine 3-pointers made tied a season high for most three-pointers made in a half (also hit 9 in the first half against both Louisiana and Texas A&M-Commerce).
- Texas forced 11 turnovers and posted a 21-8 advantage in points off turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
- The Longhorns had 11 assists (on 17 made field goals) against just four turnovers in the first half.
- Texas had separate runs of 16-0 and 11-0 in the first half.
- Tied his career high in steals (3)
- Recorded a team-best plus-minus total of plus-29 in 22 minutes
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the 25th time this year (28 games) and 110th time in his career (154 games)
- Added a game-high five assists against just one turnover in 35 minutes
- Tied his career high in assists (4)
- Tied his season high in steals (3)
- Recorded a plus-minus total of plus-25 in 23 minutes
- Reached double figures in scoring (team-high 15 points) for the 14th time this season (28 games) and 34th time in his career (63 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (team-high 15 points) for the 17th time this season (28 games) and 75th time in his career (139 games)
- Recorded a plus-minus total of plus-23 in 21 minutes
