The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
2-0,0-0SEC
Gardner-Webb
0-2,0-0Big South
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb | 20 | 30 | 50 |
| Texas | 54 | 44 | 98 |
11.05.2026 | Men's Basketball
Seven different Longhorns reach double figures in scoring on Thursday night in Moody Center.
AUSTIN, Texas — Junior center Matas Vokietaitis posted a game-high 16 points to power No. 7/7 Texas (2-0) to a 98-50 victory over Gardner-Webb (0-2) on Thursday night in Moody Center. Vokietaitis was one of seven Longhorns to reach double figures in scoring during the win.
Thursday's 48-point victory (98-50) combined with the 50-point win (109-59) in Monday's season opener against Chicago State marked the first time the Longhorns have posted back-to-back winning margins of at least 45 points in their first two games of a season since 1989-90. That year, Texas claimed a 116-66 home win against UTA (Nov. 28, 1989) and followed with a 108-63 home victory over Manhattan (Dec. 8, 1989).
Vokietaitis converted 6-of-8 field goals and tallied a game-high seven rebounds in just 20 minutes of action. Sophomore Isaiah Johnson posted 15 points (4-7 FG, 2-4 threes, 5-5 FT) and two steals in 22 minutes, and freshman Marcus Spears Jr. added 13 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 FT), four boards and two steals in 21 minutes.
Freshman Joe Sterling registered 13 points (3-5 threes, 4-5 FT), and freshman Austin Goosby recorded 11 points (3-5 FG, 1-2 threes, 4-4 FT), a game-high five steals, four rebounds and three assists in a team-high 23 minutes. Junior David Punch posted 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 FT) and six rebounds in 21 minutes, and junior Elyjah Freeman added 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 FT), four rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.
Gardner-Webb took its only lead of the night at 4-3 after a Seth Brown jumper at the 18:58 mark, before the Longhorns went on a 16-2 run over the next five-and-a-half minutes to grab a 19-6 advantage following a Goosby three-pointer with 13:17 left. The Runnin' Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 23-15 after a Jamias Ferere jumper at the 10:12 mark. Gardner-Webb pulled to within 33-20 following a Tayshaun Wells layup with 5:56 left, before Texas closed the half on a 21-0 run capped by three free throws from Johnson with four seconds remaining to take a 54-20 lead into the break.
The Longhorns increased their cushion to 40 points (62-22) after a Freeman three-point play at the 16:42 mark. The margin swelled to 50 points (74-24) following a Goosby dunk in transition with 10:54 remaining and reached as high as 53 points (77-24) after a Sterling three-pointer at the 10:12 mark.
Texas returns to action when it hosts Grambling State on Monday, Nov. 9. Tip is set for 6 p.m. Central in Moody Center, and the game will be televised nationally on SEC Network.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
No. 7/7 Texas 98, Gardner-Webb 50
November 5, 2026
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,807
Team Notes
- The Longhorns improved to 2-0 all-time against Gardner-Webb. This marked the first meeting between the two schools since the 2009-10 season.
- Texas improved to 55-17 all-time in games played in Moody Center, including a 34-2 mark in non-conference contests.
- Thursday's 48-point victory (98-50) combined with the 50-point win (109-59) in Monday's season opener against Chicago State marked the first time the Longhorns have posted back-to-back winning margins of at least 45 points in their first two games of a season since 1989-90. That year, Texas claimed a 116-66 home win against UTA (Nov. 28, 1989) and followed with a 108-63 home victory over Manhattan (Dec. 8, 1989).
- Seven different Longhorns reached double figures in scoring.
- Texas converted 60.7-percent (34-56) from the floor. This marked the second-straight game that the Longhorns hit at least 60-percent from the field after shooting at a 62.5-percent clip (40-64) in the season opener.
- Texas topped the 60-percent mark from the floor in both halves (61.3-percent in the first half and 60-percent in the second half) and has converted at least 60-percent from the field in three of its first four halves this season (67.7-percent in the first half against Chicago State).
- UT limited Gardner-Webb to 33.3-percent (15-45) from the floor, including a 21.7-percent (5-23) from three-point range, on the night. The Longhorns allowed just six assists while forcing 23 turnovers.
- The Longhorns registered a +14 (37-23) rebound margin and recorded 13 steals.
- Texas posted a 54-10 advantage in points in the paint, a 31-8 margin in points off turnovers and a 28-2 edge in fast-break points.
- The Longhorns held Gardner-Webb without a made field goal for a total stretch of 11:57 between the end of the first half and beginning of the second half. Gardner-Webb made its final field goal of the first half with 5:56 left and made its first field goal of the second half with 13:59 remaining.
- Texas converted 61.3-percent (19-31) from the floor and hit 12-of-15 (.800) free throws in the opening 20 minutes while building a 54-20 halftime cushion.
- The Longhorns closed the first half on a 21-0 run over the final 5:55.
- Texas limited Gardner-Webb to 20 points on 30.8-percent (8-26) shooting from the floor, including a 1-of-12 (.083) mark from three-point range, in the first half.
- Set a career high in assists (four) and did not commit a turnover (previous: 2, seven times)
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the first time this year (2 games) and 43rd time in his career (71 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the first time this season and in his career (2 games)
- Recorded a game-high five steals and posted a team-best plus-minus total of plus-40 in 23 minutes
- Reached double figures in scoring (15 points) for the second time this year (2 games) and 31st time in his career (34 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the first time this year (2 games) and 32nd time in his career (68 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the second time this season and in his career (2 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the second time this season and in his career (2 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (game-high 16 points) for the second time this year (2 games) and 51st time in his career (72 games)
- Celebrated his 22nd birthday
