The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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2-8,0-1Southland
Pope leads Men's Basketball past New Orleans, 98-62
12.19.2024 | Men's Basketball
Junior guard Jordan Pope sets Moody Center single-game scoring record with a career-best 42 points in Thursday’s win.
AUSTIN, Texas — Junior guard Jordan Pope set a Moody Center individual record for single-game scoring with a career-high 42 points to pace Texas (10-2) to a 98-62 victory over New Orleans (2-8) on Thursday night. The 42 points marked a tie for the seventh most in a single game in UT program history and the fourth most in a home game in school history.
Pope converted 15-of-21 field goals, including 8-of-12 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 free throws in 33 minutes of action. He set career highs in both field goals made and three-pointers made, and his eight 3-pointers were two shy of the UT single-game record. His six 3-pointers made in the second half marked a tie for the second-most in a single half in UT program history.
Senior Arthur Kaluma recorded his third double-double of the season with 15 points (5-9 FG, 2-2 threes, 3-3 FT) and 10 rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocks in 28 minutes. Junior Chendall Weaver posted 12 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 threes, 3-3 FT), five boards and two assists in 26 minutes.
The Longhorns converted 54.8-percent (34-62) from the floor, including a 52.0-percent mark (13-25) from three-point range, on the night. In the second half, Texas hit 60-percent (18-30) from the floor, including a 60-percent mark (9-15) from the three-point line. UT posted 15 assists while committing a season-low six turnovers in the win.
The Longhorns took control from the opening tip and built a 16-0 advantage while holding New Orleans scoreless for the first 7:38 of the contest. UNO finally got on the board at the 12:22 mark after a JR Jacobs jumper. Beginning with that basket, New Orleans used a 12-2 spurt over the next four minutes to trim the margin to 18-12 following a Dae Dae Hunter three-pointer at the 8:30 mark.
A pair of James White free throws cut the deficit to 21-15 with 6:35 remaining, before Texas responded with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to build a 33-15 cushion after a Pope three-pointer at the 3:28 mark. The Longhorns increased their advantage to as much as 22 points (40-18) following another Pope three-pointer with 1:51 left, but the Privateers closed the half on a 10-4 spurt to pull to within 44-28 at the break.
New Orleans trimmed the margin to 48-38 after a MJ Thomas layup at the 17:16 mark. A White free throw cut the deficit to 60-47 with 11:51 left, before Texas went on a 34-3 run over the next eight minutes to build a 94-50 cushion following a Kadin Shedrick dunk at the 3:01 mark. Pope scored 27 of his 42 points in the second half while converting 9-of-12 field goals, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-3 free throws.
Texas will take a 10-day break for the holidays before returning to action against Northwestern State on Sunday, Dec. 29. Tip is scheduled for 11 a.m. Central at Moody Center, and the contest will be streamed nationally by SEC Network+.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas 98, New Orleans 62
December 19, 2024
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,565
Team Notes
- Texas improved to 7-1 in home games this season and 37-6 all-time in games played in Moody Center.
- UT led from start-to-finish for the third-straight game and the sixth time in its opening 12 contests this season.
- Texas has scored at least 89 points in seven of its first eight home games this year.
- The Longhorns converted 54.8-percent (34-62) from the floor, including a 52.0-percent mark (13-25) from three-point range, on the night.
- This marked the seventh time in the first 12 games that Texas has shot at least 50-percent from the floor and third time this season that the Longhorns have converted at least 50-percent from three-point range.
- UT posted 15 assists while committing a season-low six turnovers and registered a plus-9 rebound margin (45-36).
- The Longhorns recorded a season-high nine blocked shots during the win.
- Texas jumped out to a 16-0 lead and did not allow UNO to record a point until a jumper at the 12:22 mark.
- UT hit 60.0-percent (18-30) from the floor, including a 60.0-percent mark (9-15) from three-point range, in the second half while recording a 54-34 scoring margin in the final 20 minutes.
- The Longhorns converted 50-percent (16-32) from the floor and 80-percent (8-10) from the free throw line and held the Privateers to 28.1-percent (9-32) in the opening 20 minutes while building a 44-28 halftime cushion.
- Set his career high in rebounds (3)
- Did not play (right hip)
- Posted a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) for the third time this year (12 games) and 11th time in his career (113 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 11th time this season and the 79th time in his career
- Reached double digits in rebounds for the fourth time this year and 13th time in his career
- Recorded a team-high plus-minus total of plus-47 in 28 minutes
- Did not play (right wrist)
- Posted a game-high six assists against just one turnover in 24 minutes
- Set careers high in points (42), field goals made (15-21) and three-point field goals made (8-12) while also converting 4-of-5 free throws in 33 minutes
- Set the individual record for most points in Moody Center history (previous: 41 by Marcus Carr of Texas vs. Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 27, 2022
- The 42 points are tied for the seventh most by a Texas player in program history and the most scored since Reggie Freeman had 43 in a home win against Fresno State on Dec. 14, 1996
- The 42 points are the fourth most in a home game by a Texas player in program history
- His eight 3-pointers made were two shy of the UT program record (10, shared by Marcus Carr and Al Coleman)
- Went 6-of-8 from three-point range in the second half and his six 3-pointers made are tied for the second most in a half in program history (since 1986-87)
- Topped the 40-point mark for the first time this year (12 games) and in his career (76 games)
- Reached the 30-point mark for the first time this season and third time in his career
- Topped the 20-point mark for the first time this year and 14th time in his career
- Reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time this season and 60th time in his career
- Posted three blocked shots in 24 minutes
- Has recorded multiple blocks in nine of his first 12 games this year
- Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the fourth time this season (12 games) and 28th time in his career (78 games)
