The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
8-2,0-0SEC
New Mexico State
4-6,0-0CUSA
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico St. | 27 | 40 | 67 |
| Texas | 52 | 39 | 91 |
Men's Basketball bounces back to beat New Mexico State, 91-67
12.12.2024 | Men's Basketball
Kaluma paces four Longhorns in double-figure scoring with a team-high 18 points.
AUSTIN, Texas — Senior forward Arthur Kalama registered a team-high 18 points to lead Texas (8-2) to a 91-67 victory over New Mexico State (4-6) on Thursday night in Moody Center. The Longhorns have scored at least 89 points in five of their first six home games this season.
Kalama, who led four Texas players in double-figure scoring on the night, converted 8-of-13 field goals, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, to go along with seven boards, two assists and one steal in 26 minutes. Graduate Tramon Mark posted 14 points (4-6 FG, 3-5 threes, 3-3 FT) and seven rebounds in 21 minutes. Senior Ze'Rik Onyema recorded 10 points (3-3 FG, 4-4 FT), one block and one steal in 15 minutes, while junior Jordan Pope added 10 points (5-10 FG) and two assists in 22 minutes.
The Longhorns converted 58.6-percent (34-58) from the floor and recorded a plus-12 rebound margin (36-24) on the night. Texas registered 19 assists against just 10 turnovers, while the Aggies tallied just nine assists against 15 turnovers.
Texas, which never trailed in the contest, jumped out to a 10-4 advantage following a Mark three-pointer at the 17:28 mark. After a Christian Cook jumper trimmed the margin to 14-10 with 14:41 left, the Longhorns went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to increase their cushion to 23-10 following a Tre Johnson three-pointer at the 12:44 mark.
Another Cook jumper cut the deficit to 23-12 with 11:57 remaining, before Texas scored eight straight points to build a 31-12 advantage after a Johnson jumper at the 7:19 mark.
A Zawdie Jackson layup trimmed the gap to 33-16 with 6:05 left, but Texas responded with a 7-0 spurt over the next 74 seconds to grab a 40-16 cushion following a Chendall Weaver free throw at the 4:51 mark. The Longhorns increased their lead to as much as 28 points (50-22) after an Onyema layup with 1:37 left, before the Aggies closed to within 52-27 at the break. UT recorded a season high for points in the first half and converted 62.5-percent (20-32) from the floor, including a 45.5-percent mark (5-11) from three-point range, and 7-of-8 free throws in the opening 20 minutes.
New Mexico State cut the deficit to 19 points (67-48) after a Jackson layup at the 11:06 mark, but that was as close as the Aggies would get for the remainder of the contest. The Longhorns answered with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to build a 75-48 advantage following a pair of Weaver free throws with 8:18 left. Texas led by as much as 30 points (81-51) after a Kadin Shedrick free throw at the 5:22 mark.
Texas returns to action against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday, Dec. 15. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the contest will be streamed nationally by SEC Network+.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas 91, New Mexico State 67
December 12, 2024
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,600
Team Notes
- Texas improved to 5-1 in home games this season and 35-6 all-time in games played in Moody Center.
- The Longhorns improved to 4-1 in the all-time series against New Mexico State.
- UT led from start-to-finish for the fourth time in its opening 10 contests this season.
- Texas has scored at least 89 points in five of its first six home games this year.
- The Longhorns converted 58.6-percent (34-58) from the floor during the contest.
- Texas led by as much as 30 points (81-51) at the 5:22 mark of the second half.
- UT registered 19 assists (on 34 field goals made) against 10 turnovers, while the Aggies tallied just nine assists against 15 turnovers.
- Texas recorded a 25-13 advantage in points off turnovers, a 19-5 margin in fast-break points and a 31-15 edge in bench scoring on the night.
- The Longhorns tallied a +12 (36-24) rebound margin during the contest.
- Texas posted a season high for points in the first half (52, previous: 50 vs. Chicago State on Nov. 12)
- The Longhorns converted 62.5-percent (20-32), including a 45.5-percent mark (5-11) from three-point range, and 7-of-8 (.875) free throws in the opening 20 minutes while building a 52-27 halftime cushion.
- Texas posted a +11 (19-8) rebound margin in the first half, including a 6-1 margin on the offensive glass.
- The Longhorns registered a 16-4 advantage in points off turnovers, a 15-2 edge in bench scoring and a 12-0 margin in fast-break points in the opening 20 minutes.
- Tied his season high in assists (4)
- Registered a team-best plus-minus total of plus-22 in 26 minutes
- Reached double figures in scoring (team-high 18 points) for the ninth time this season (10 games) and the 77th time in his career (111 games)
- Set his season high in field goals made (8-13)
- Tied for the team lead in rebounds (7)
- Did not play (right wrist)
- Reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the third time this season (6 games) and 61st time in his career (113 games)
- Set a season high in three-point field goals made (3-5)
- Tied for the team lead in rebounds (7)
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the second time this season (10 games) and 15th time in his career (95 games)
- Tied his season high in free throws made (4-4)
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the fourth time this season (10 games) and 58th time in his career (74 games)
- Registered a team-best plus-minus total of plus-22 in 22 minutes
- Posted two blocked shots in 19 minutes of action
- Has recorded multiple blocks in eight of his first 10 games this year
