The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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No. 19/19 Men's Basketball falls 80-72 to Ohio State
11.05.2024 | Men's Basketball
Tre Johnson sets UT freshman debut record with 29 points during Monday’s season-opening defeat.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Freshman guard Tre Johnson recorded a game-high 29 points, but No. 19/19 Texas (0-1) dropped an 80-72 decision against Ohio State (1-0) as part of the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas Opening Night event on Monday night at T-Mobile Arena. Johnson's 29 points marked the most in a Texas freshman debut, topping the previous mark of 20 by Kevin Durant in a home win against Alcorn State on Nov. 9, 2006.
Johnson converted 10-of-20 field goals, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 free throws while adding five rebounds, four assists against just one turnover and two steals in 39 minutes. Graduate Kadin Shedrick posted 10 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes, while senior Arthur Kaluma added 10 points (4-7 FG) and five rebounds in 30 minutes.
The difference in the contest came at the three-point line. Ohio State connected on 14-of-28 (.500) from three-point range while the Longhorns were 7-of-28 (.250) from beyond the arc.
Ohio State jumped out to an 8-0 lead following a Micah Parrish three-pointer at the 18:32 mark. After a Devin Royal three-pointer gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 advantage with 16:05 remaining, Texas used back-to-back baskets from Kaluma and Johnson to pull to within 14-11 at the 15:12 mark.
A Johnson jumper trimmed the margin to 21-18 with 11:25 left, before Ohio State went on a 12-0 run over the next five minutes to build a 33-18 cushion following a pair of Sean Stewart free throws at the 6:24 mark. Texas responded with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to 33-28 after a Kaluma put-back dunk with 2:29 left. A Royal jumper at the 1:24 mark helped the Buckeyes take a 38-31 advantage into the break.
A Jordan Pope three-pointer trimmed the lead to 42-39 at the 16:59 mark. Ohio State responded with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to build a 49-39 cushion following a John Mobley Jr. three-pointer with 15:03 left. Mobley Jr. converted a pair of free throws to increase the advantage to 51-40 at the 13:59 mark, but the Longhorns answered with a 16-8 spurt over the next five-and-a-half minutes to cut the deficit to 59-56 after a Chendall Weaver driving layup with 8:20 remaining.
A Shedrick dunk trimmed the margin to 61-58 at the 7:34 mark, but the Buckeyes went on a 10-1 run over the next two-plus minutes to take a 71-59 lead following a Royal three-pointer with 5:13 left. The margin did not dip below seven points for the remainder of the contest.
Texas returns to action when it plays its home opener against Houston Christian on Friday, Nov. 8. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the game will be streamed by SEC Network+.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Ohio State 80, #19/19 Texas 72
Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas Opening Night
November 4, 2024
T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Attendance: 6,397
Team Notes
- Texas tipped off its 119th season of intercollegiate basketball with an 80-72 neutral-site loss against Ohio State
- UT dropped to 98-21 all-time in season-opening games. The Longhorns entered the game having won 21 of their last 22 season-opening contests.
- This marked the earliest starting date (November 4) in Texas program history. The previous mark was Nov. 5, 2019, when the Longhorns defeated Northern Colorado 69-45 at home.
- The Longhorns posted an 18-2 advantage in points off turnovers and a 10-0 margin in fast-break points.
- Texas finished the contest with 15 assists (on 25 made field goals) against just nine turnovers.
- Ohio State converted 14-of-28 (.500) from beyond the three-point line, while the Longhorns hit 7-of-28 (.250) from beyond the arc.
- Set the Texas record for most points in a freshman debut (29); previous: 20 by Kevin Durant vs. Alcorn State on Nov. 9, 2006
- Registered 29 points (10-20 FG, 5-10 threes, 4-5 FT), five rebounds, four assists against one turnover and two steals in 38:43 of game action
- Became the 40th freshman in program history to start a season opener (first since Dillon Mitchell in the 2022-23 season) since freshman became eligible prior to the 1972-73 season.
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the first time this season (1 game) and the 69th time in his career (102 games)
- Four of his five rebounds came on the offensive glass
- Did not play (right ankle)
- Did not play (left ankle)
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the first time this year (1 game) and 34th time in his career (109 games)
- Four of his five rebounds came on the offensive glass
- Tied his Texas career high in rebounds (8), also had 8 at Texas Tech last season (Feb. 27, 2024)
- His collegiate career high in rebounds is 10 set as a freshman playing for UTA at San Francisco (Dec. 19, 2022)
