The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
12-5,1-3Big 12
UCF
11-5,2-2Big 12
Men's Basketball falls to UCF, 77-71
01.17.2024 | Men's Basketball
Horton registers a season-high 20 points on Wednesday night in Moody Center.
AUSTIN, Texas — Graduate guard Ithiel Horton registered a season-high 20 points, but Texas (12-5, 1-3 Big 12) suffered a 77-71 loss to UCF (11-5, 2-2 Big 12) on Wednesday night in front of a sellout crowd at Moody Center. The Longhorns fell to 25-3 all-time in Moody Center, including a 9-2 record this season.
Horton converted a season-high 8-of-14 field goals, including 4-of-10 from three-point range, and added three rebounds and three assists without a turnover in a season-best 37 minutes. Sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell tallied 15 points (6-9 FG, 3-4 FT), a game-high nine rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes.
Graduate guard Max Abmas posted 15 points, three assists and two rebounds in 39 minutes. Abmas, who entered the contest in a tie for No. 17 with Larry Bird (Indiana State) on the all-time NCAA Division I career scoring list, moved into sole possession of the No. 17 spot with 2,865 points.
After a C.J. Walker dunk evened the score at 2-2 with 18:54 remaining, the Longhorns went on a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to build a 15-3 cushion following a Mitchell free throw at the 15:00 mark. Texas increased its advantage to as much as 16 points (22-6) after a Kadin Shedrick dunk with 12:34 left.
An Abmas free throw gave the Longhorns a 23-10 advantage at the 8:28 mark, but the Knights scored six straight points to cut the deficit to 23-16 following a Jaylin Sellers three-pointer with 7:42 remaining. UCF trimmed the margin to 36-30 after a Omar Payne jumper at the 2:42 mark, before Texas closed the half on an 8-2 run to take a 44-32 advantage into the break. The Longhorns converted 68.0-percent (17-25), including a 5-of-10 (.500) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes.
The Knights cut the gap to 48-40 following a Walker layup at the 16:29 mark, before Texas responded by scoring seven straight points to build a 55-40 cushion after a Horton jumper with 14:30 remaining. The Longhorns held a 59-46 advantage following a Mitchell jumper at the 11:59 mark, but UCF caught fire and finished the final 12 minutes of the contest on a 31-12 run to pull out the victory.
Texas returns to the court when it hosts No. 9/9 Baylor on Saturday, Jan. 20. Tip is scheduled for 11 a.m. Central in Moody Center, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
UCF 77, Texas 71
January 17, 2024
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 11,235
Team Notes
- Texas dropped to 25-3 all-time in games played in Moody Center, including a 9-2 record this season.
- Tonight's game marked the first contest in men's basketball played between Texas and UCF.
- Tonight's contest was played in front of a sellout crowd of 11,235 fans.
- Texas led by as much as 16 points (22-6) at the 12:34 mark of the first half and by 15 points (55-40) with 14:30 remaining in the contest.
- The Longhorns held the lead for a total of 34:03 on the night.
- UT converted 10-of-26 (.385) from three-point range. This marked the sixth time this season (17 games) that the Longhorns have reached double digits in three-point field goals made.
- The Longhorns tallied 17 assists (against 11 turnovers) on 27 made field goals.
- Texas converted 68.0-percent (17-25) from the floor, including a 5-of-10 (.500) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes while building a 44-32 halftime lead.
- Reached double figures in scoring (15 points) for the 17th time this year (17 games) and 129th time in his career (140 games)
- Has now reached double figures in scoring in 39 consecutive games
- Moved into solo possession of the No. 17 spot on the NCAA all-time Division I career scoring list with 2,865 points in 140 games (entered the contest tied with Larry Bird of Indiana State at 2,850). Next up at No. 16 is Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) at 2,872.
- Set a season high in scoring (20 points), previous: 18 vs. Delaware St. (Nov. 10)
- Set a season high in field goals made (8-14), previous: 6 vs. UIW (Nov. 6)
- Set a season high in minutes (37), previous: 36 vs. UTA (Jan. 1)
- Topped the 20-point mark for the first time this season (17 games) and 14th time in his career (119 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the eighth time this year and 68th time in his career
- In 18 minutes of action in the first half, he registered 12 points (5-7 FG, 2-4 threes), three rebounds and two assists
- Tied his season high in assists (7)
- Set his season high in steals (4)
- Reached double figures in scoring (15 points) for the 10th time this year (17 games) and 16th time in his career (55 games)
