The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Penn State
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No. 5/7 Men's Basketball tops Penn State, 71-66, in NCAA Second Round
03.19.2023 | Men's Basketball
Disu records a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Longhorns to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Senior forward Dylan Disu recorded a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds to pace No. 5/7 Texas (28-8) to a 71-66 victory against Penn State (23-14) in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on Saturday night in Wells Fargo Arena. With the victory, the Longhorns advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008 when Texas reached the Elite Eight.
Disu set a Texas NCAA Tournament single-game record for most field goals made (14-20), topping the previous mark of 11 that had been accomplished three times previously and the most recent by Kevin Durant in 2007. Disu's 28 points were the most ever by a Texas player in a NCAA Round of 32 victory, breaking the mark of 26 set by A.J. Abrams against Miami, Fla. in the 2008 tourney. It also marked the highest single-game scoring output by a Longhorn in a NCAA tourney contest since Kevin Durant had 30 points in a NCAA Round of 32 loss to USC in 2007. Disu registered his second-straight double-double in the NCAA Tournament, as he tallied 17 points and 10 boards in Thursday's First Round victory over Colgate.
Graduate Sir'Jabari Rice posted 13 points (4-4 FT) in 28 minutes, and graduate Marcus Carr added 10 points, three boards and three assists in 39 minutes. Super senior Timmy Allen registered a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with nine points (4-9 FG) and three assists in 34 minutes.
Texas limited the Nittany Lions to a 28.6-percent (8-28) mark from three-point range and allowed just six assists on the night. The Longhorns converted 50.8-percent (31-61) from the floor and committed just five turnovers during the game.
Penn State took a 4-3 lead after a Camren Wynter jumper at the 18:05 mark. Texas scored six-straight points to grab a 9-4 advantage following a Carr jumper with 16:12 remaining, before the Nittany Lions used a 7-2 spurt over the next eight minutes to even the score at 11-11 after a Kanye Clary jumper at the 8:19 mark.
The Longhorns took a 21-17 lead following a Disu jumper with 4:44 left, but a Myles Dread three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 21-20 at the 4:27 mark. A Jalen Pickett free throw cut the margin to 23-21 with 3:42 remaining, before the Longhorns closed the half on an 8-2 run capped by a Carr jumper just before the buzzer to take a 31-23 cushion into the break. Texas limited Penn State to 34.6-percent (9-26) field goal shooting, including a 15.4-percent (2-13) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes.
UT increased its advantage to 39-28 following a Disu jumper at the 17:32 mark. After a Rice jumper gave the Longhorns a 41-32 lead with 15:42 left, the Nittany Lions used a 7-2 spurt over the next two minutes to cut the deficit to 43-39 following a Pickett layup at the 13:33 mark. Texas built a 47-39 advantage after a Carr jumper with 12:26 remaining.
After a Rice three-pointer gave the Longhorns a 55-48 cushion at the 8:32 mark, Penn State used a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to grab a 58-55 lead following a Seth Lundy layup with 4:48 left. Texas responded by scoring 10-straight points, eight of which came from Disu, to build a 65-58 advantage after a Disu jumper with 55 seconds left. The Nittany Lions pulled to within 69-66 following a four-point play by Lundy with four seconds remaining, before Carr sealed the victory by converting a pair of free throws.
Texas will face the winner of Sunday's Xavier-Pittsburgh matchup in the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals on Friday, March 24. Tip time and television network has not yet been finalized for Friday's game which will be played at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#5/7 Texas 71, Penn State 66
NCAA Second Round
March 18, 2023
Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, Iowa)
Attendance: 16,796
Team Notes
- With the victory, the Longhorns advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008 when they reached the Elite Eight.
- This marks the 37th overall appearance by the Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament. Texas improved to 38-39 all-time in the Big Dance with tonight's win.
- UT improved to 21-7 under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry this season.
- The Longhorns moved to 8-1 under Terry this season in games decided by five points or less OR in overtime.
- Trailing 58-55 with 4:48 remaining in the contest, Texas scored 10 consecutive points on its way to ending the contest on a 16-8 run.
- The Longhorns limited Penn State to 41.7-percent (25-60) field goal shooting, including a 28.6-percent (8-28) mark from three-point range.
- Texas converted 50.8-percent (31-61) from the floor, including a 55.2-percent (16-29) mark in the second half.
- The Longhorns committed just five turnovers during the contest.
- UT registered a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint.
- The Longhorns improved to 21-0 this year when leading at the half.
- Texas limited Penn State to 23 points on 34.6-percent (9-26) field goal shooting, including a 15.4-percent mark (2-13) from three-point range, in the first half.
- Set his season high in rebounds (12), previous: 10 (twice)
- Reached double figures in rebounds for the third time this season (33 games) and 18th time in his career (152 games)
- Registered a team-best plus-minus total of plus-10 in 34 minutes played
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the 32nd time this year (36 games) and 117th time in his career (162 games)
- Set a Texas NCAA Tournament single-game record for most field goals made (14-20), previous: 11 (three times, last by Kevin Durant vs. USC on March 18, 2007)
- Set a season high in scoring (28 points), previous: 24 (at Baylor on Feb. 25)
- Disu's 28 points were the most ever by a Texas player in a NCAA Round of 32 victory, breaking the mark of 26 set by A.J. Abrams against Miami, Fla. in the 2008 tourney.
- It also marked the highest single-game scoring output by a Longhorn in a NCAA tourney contest since Kevin Durant had 30 points in a NCAA Round of 32 loss to USC in 2007.
- Set a collegiate career high in field goals made (14-20), previous: 10 (twice)
- Recorded a double-double (28 points, 10 rebounds) for the third time this season (35 games) and 15th time in his career (110 games)
- Topped the 20-point mark for the second time this season and fourth time in his career
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 17th time this year and 46th time in his career
- Reached double digits in rebounds for the fourth time this season and 19th time in his career
- Tied his season high in rebounds (7)
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the 24th time this season (36 games) and 82nd time in his career (147 games)
