AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 10 Texas shot 62% from 3-point range and played tremendously better against Oklahoma State than they did 17 days ago in an 89-75 win Tuesday at Moody Center.
Both the Longhorns and Cowboys would rather forget about the offensively-challenged 56-46 contest they played Jan. 7 in Stillwater, and while both executed better with the ball, the Longhorns did so at a higher level.
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Texas canned 8-of-13 3-point attempts and made half their shots from the field along with an 85% performance from the foul line. Perhaps the most impactful performance came from Brock Cunningham with a career-high 15 points on a near-perfect shooting night in 24 minutes. Cunningham shot 5-for-6 from the field and he was 3-for-3 from 3-point range. He made all five of his foul shots.
Cunningham said he “put the time in,” to improve his shooting, and it showed against the Cowboys.
“To have a guy that can stretch the floor from the big spot is huge for us,” Longhorns interim head coach Rodney Terry said. “It’s a big opportunity for us when he’s able to knock down shots.”
The Longhorns owned the glass with 41 rebounds to Oklahoma State’s 27, and Texas’ 14 offensive rebounds led to 16 second-chance points. Texas scored 20 points off 16 turnovers by the Cowboys.
“It was a big emphasis against an elite-level rebounding team,” Terry said. “It was a huge part of the game to be +14 on the glass.”
Marcus Carr scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Timmy Allen poured in 17 points as four Longhorns scored in double figures. Dylan Disu had 12 points and eight rebounds but played just 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
For Oklahoma State, Kalib Boone and John-Michael Wright each scored 18 points. Boone was 8-of-9 from the field.
With the win, Texas (17-3, 6-2 Big 12 Conference) swept the season series with Oklahoma State and will take a break from conference play Saturday to take on the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. Oklahoma State (11-9, 3-5) will play Ole Miss in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge on Saturday in Stillwater.
Terry was an assistant for nine seasons under Rick Barnes, who is now the coach for Tennessee. Terry said Barnes is “like family to me,” and relishes the opportunity to have a chance to coach against him for the second time.
“We’ll play the best defensive team in the country on Saturday,” Terry said. “Coach Barnes is a mentor and someone I stay in close contact with on a regular basis. It’s going to be a great game with a great atmosphere. It’ll be a special opportunity for us.”
Game log
Final: Texas 89, Oklahoma State 75.
2:53 2H. Texas 80, Oklahoma St. 67. Brock Cunningham is having a terrific game. He hits another 3-pointer and it looks like the Horns have this one under control. Some fans are heading for the exit.
5:18 2H: Texas 75, Oklahoma St. 67. John-Michael Wright hits a corner 3 for the Cowboys and they call a timeout to slow the game down.
7:14 2H: Texas 71, Oklahoma St. 60. Teams have combined to make 8 of last 9 shots. Cunningham and Hunter both with 3s, Allen is the king of the midrange jumper and has 13pts after a 20-footer drops.
9:03 2H: Dylan Disu picks up his 4th foul on a blocking call that looked like he had his feet set and in guarding position, but the official saw it differently.
10:48 2H: Texas 58, Oklahoma St. 46. Tyrese Hunter hits a pair of FTs for the Longhorns after taking a hard foul in the paint.
14:42 2H: Texas 49, Oklahoma St. 41. Longhorns are 19-40 from the field, Cowboys are 16-40.
Halftime: Texas 40, Oklahoma St. 32. Jabari Rice hit a 3 with time winding down after Brock Cunningham spiked a Cowboys shot out of bounds like a volleyball player. Horns shooting 50% from the field. Carr leads all scorers with 12pts.
4:30 1H: Texas 33, Oklahoma St. 30. Cowboys’ Bryce Thompson hits a 3 following a Caleb Asberry dunk in transition and Oklahoma St. makes it a one-possession game. Cowboys are 4-11 from 3pt range.
6:57 1H: Texas 27, Oklahoma St. 20. Cowboys were within 4 but Brock Cunningham buried a 3 from the left wing with a hand in his face. Texas 3-5 from 3pt range so far and outrebounding Cowboys 15-9.
11:43 1H: Texas 17, Oklahoma St. 9. Horns have made 5 of their last 6 shots and the Cowboys have missed 6 of their last 7 shots. UT ball out of the media timeout
13:33 1H: Texas 14, Oklahoma St. 6. Horns on 8-0 run behind a Carr 3ptr and Bishop getting everything he wants inside. Cowboys trying to man up on him and he uses the ol’ drop step for a layup. Easy bucket.
15:33 1H: Texas 6, Oklahoma St. 6. Dillon Mitchell has 2 offensive rebounds and 4 points for the Horns. Working hard under the hoop early on here.
19:19 1H: Not off to a great start with turnovers by both teams on their opening possessions.
20:00 1H: Just about ready to tip this thing off. Your starters …
UT: Allen, Disu, Hunter, Carr, Mitchell
OSU: Anderson, Thompson, Newton, Boone, Wright