Behind a career-high 42 points from junior guard Jordan Pope, Texas basketball (10-2, 0-0 SEC) dominated the New Orleans Privateers (2-8, 0-1 Southland) at the Moody Center on Dec. 19. Pope scored nearly half of Texas's point outside of garbage time late in the second half of this game against New Orleans, in a 98-62 victory on Thursday night.
Jordan Pope's historic 40+ point night launches Texas basketball past New Orleans
Pope really picked up the slack scoring for the Longhorns, with freshman guard Tre Johnson missing the second game in a row due to a hip injury. Texas also got big offensive contributions from senior forward Arthur Kaluma and junior guard Chendall Weaver, who both scored in double figures among the starters.
Texas shot the lights out in this game, largely thanks to the insane scoring outburst from Pope against the Privateers. The Longhorns shot over 50 percent from the field and over 50 percent from beyond the arc.
It was also critical for the Longhorns to win the battle on the boards, reeling in a season-high 45 rebounds. This victory over New Orleans gives the Longhorns one more tune-up game against Northwestern State before SEC play begins in early January in College Station against Texas A&M.
Here are two studs, and one dud from the Longhorns' 98-62 win over New Orleans on Dec. 19.
Stud: Arthur Kaluma, F
Texas won the battle on the glass and the points in the paint battle against New Orleans, largely thanks to the efforts of Kaluma grinding around the basket in this game. Kaluma has been a stalwart for the Longhorns on both ends of the floor, scoring multiple baskets in transition while coming up with one steal and two blocks on defense.
Kaluma registered his third double-double of the season, raking in 15 points and 10 rebounds (including two offensive boards).
nothing but net from @___kingart 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/Zqhh5A3ste
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) December 20, 2024
Offensively, Kaluma is money shooting from beyond the arc in the last couple of weeks. Kaluma has shot at least 50 percent from three-point range for four games in a row, including nailing both of his looks from deep tonight against New Orleans.
Kaluma has quietly been Texas's most reliable and consistent player this season. I would also argue that he's been the team's MVP this season, with Johnson missing the past two contests due to an injury.