Texas Basketball: Longhorns re-gain edge by beating UAB 67-57

A big win for the Texas basketball program gave them their seventh of the young season, with a 67-57 home triumph over the UAB Blazers.

A performance that most fans have come to expect out of the Texas basketball program at this point showed up with a 67-57 home win at the Frank Erwin Center over the UAB Blazers, out of the Conference-USA.

The Texas Longhorns basketball program got a difficult test from the two-win McNeese State Cowboys on Nov. 30 at the Erwin Center. The Longhorns staved off the upset bid from McNeese State by beating them by a slim two-point margin. But, head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart saw his team respond in a big way against UAB.

UAB came into this game as one of the teams that was expected to finish in the middle of the pack in the C-USA this season. They carried a record of 4-2, while the Longhorns came in with a record of 6-1.

It was Texas that got off to a fast start, which was much needed after the McNeese State scare at home last weekend. Texas wound up controlling the pace of play throughout the first 20 minutes, taking a 38-25 lead into halftime. UAB would draw closer in the second half, winning the last 20 minutes by a score of 32-29.

But it wasn’t nearly enough for the Blazers to catch up with the Longhorns down the stretch. UAB needed much more than a three-point second half edge to catch up with Texas when it was all said and done.

The volume scoring presence of redshirt junior shooting guard Andrew Jones off the bench was essential to the Longhorns again. Getting a healthy Jones back in the mix this season is absolutely pivotal. He’s not always the most efficient scorer (shooting 28 percent from beyond the arc coming into this game) for the Longhorns, but he can just get buckets. And a limited offensive team like Texas needs that in spots.

Jones produced a game-high 20 points, while shooting 7-of-12 from the field and a sparkling 6-of-8 from three-point range.

Andrew wasn’t the only Jones for Texas that came up with a big outing off the bench against UAB. Freshman big man Kai Jones produced four points, three rebounds, two steals, and three blocks off the bench too. He was a stud on both ends of the floor when needed.

Sophomore guard Courtney Ramey had the best night among the Texas starting five. Ramey finished the night with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and only one turnover.

Texas did a nice job keeping the UAB starting five limited in terms of scoring. The UAB team-leader in scoring tonight was sophomore shooting guard Tavin Lovan, who finished the night with 12 points.

Where Texas also did a nice job was forcing UAB to turn the ball over and limiting them from beyond the arc. UAB only got of 13 three-point attempts, and made four of them. They also turned the ball over 13 times compared to just 10 from the Longhorns.

This big night from Jones moves Texas to a record of 7-1 on the season, while UAB moves to 4-3. Next up for UAB is a difficult matchup against the No. 15 ranked Memphis Tigers, and the star freshmen duo of James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa, on Dec. 7 at home.

And the Longhorns have a big time matchup, that reignites the Lone Star Showdown on the hardwood, against the Texas A&M Aggies at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Dec. 8 up next.