No. 19 Texas passes the test against future SEC foe LSU

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Texas guard Max Abbas (3) shoots at LSU forward Mowani Wilkinson (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)Kevin M. Cox/Associated Press

Texas coach Rodney Terry began his postgame press conference Saturday wishing the Longhorns volleyball team the best in Sunday’s national championship game against Nebraska in Tampa, Florida.

A few minutes later, in the middle of analyzing the win, Terry mentioned that his players had taken a hard fall academically as well. As for basketball? The Longhorns put together everything that happened in a holiday test in downtown Houston 10 games into a projected season.

No. 19 UT made itself at home under the Rockets’ roof on Saturday after rolling past LSU 96-85 at Toyota Center. They all met in the first game of the Halal Guys Showcase doubleheader, with Houston and No. 4 Texas A&M heading into the game later Saturday.

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Utah shot 50 percent from the 3-point line (10 of 20), and guard Max Abmas led the Longhorns (8-2) with 20 points, his highest of the season. UT guard Tyrese Hunter added 19 points, going 8 of 11 from the field.

“That was fun,” Hunter said of playing on an NBA arena. “For some people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so just go out there, have a good time and embrace it.”

LSU guard Jordan Wright helped keep the Tigers (6-5) hanging with 33 points, including making 5 of 7 3-pointers. He scored 31 of his points in the second half as the Tigers tried to catch up after the Longhorns shot 61 percent from the field (20 of 33) in the first half.

“I felt like I was in a good rhythm and we played with a great pace offensively,” Wright said. “We just have to get more (defensive) stops.”

UT forward Dylan Disu also made his first appearance of the season after returning from a foot injury. Disu, who was a catalyst in UT’s run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before being sidelined by injury in the postseason, finished Saturday with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds. He also made all nine of his free throw attempts, showing no rust from the long layoff.

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The Longhorns were very hot early against the Tigers and led 56-37 at halftime. LSU cut UT’s swollen lead to seven points (70-63) with just over nine minutes remaining before running out of steam in a comeback attempt. The Longhorns outscored the Tigers 26-22 the rest of the way.

“They were incredibly efficient offensively,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said of the Longhorns. “We added to that with some turnovers and second-chance opportunities. Overall, they were really able to split us up in the half court (offense)… They’re a really talented team.

The Longhorns and Tigers last played in January 2020, a 69-67 LSU win in Austin, a little more than a month before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down college basketball that season. The Tigers hold a 20-12 series advantage.

The two programs met for the second time at Toyota Center, 17 years apart. In December 2006, the Longhorns ousted then-No. 9 LSU 76-75 in overtime. Saturday’s game was nowhere near that kind of drama — and that was fine by Terry and his staff.

“They’re a really good team that crashes the offensive glass,” Terry said of LSU, in its second season under McMahon. “We knew we had to go into this game with a physical mindset, and that it was going to take a lot of individual defense. I think our guys’ (practices) this week really prepared them for the game, and we played really well in the first half.”

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“(Then) we had a very good relay trying to finish the game for 40 minutes.”

The Longhorns next host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday at 2 p.m. The Tigers next host Lamar on Thursday at 8pm CT and will exit the Big 12 and enter the SEC in the summer.

The No. 19 Texas Longhorns put on an impressive performance as they faced off against future SEC opponent LSU, showcasing their strength and skill on the field. In a highly anticipated matchup, Texas showed they were up to the challenge, proving they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. With a decisive victory, the Longhorns sent a powerful message to the college football world, solidifying their position as a formidable force to be reckoned with. This win not only served as a testament to their ability, but also as a glimpse into their potential as they move forward in their journey towards greatness.

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