Jan. 3, 2004
AUSTIN, Texas - Texas had five players score in double figures and shot 56.5% from the field (35 of 62) to cruise past Texas-Arlington 99-79 in front of 6,574 at the Frank Ervin Center Friday night.
UTA (4-6) dropped its fourth straight game as its readies for Southland Conference play Thursday against Louisiana-Monroe at Texas Hall. Senior forward Derrick Obasohan had a career-high 25 points and freshman guard Stephen Floyd had a personal-best 21 points.
Texas (7-2) was led in scoring by freshman forward P.J. Tucker's 22 points. Brad Buckman added 12 an Royal Ivey 10 points. Kenny Taylor (19) and Edgar Moreno (11) came off the bench to score in double figures as the Longhorn bench accounted for 48 Longhorn points.
Texas outrebounded Texas-Arlington 26-12 in the second half to keep UTA in its wake. UTA grabbed by 12 points the final 29:39 of the game against the physical Longhorns.
"Height-wise we may match up with Texas, but they are a much bigger team than we are. We are no match for them when they spread us out," said UTA head coach Eddie McCarter.
Texas built a 48-34 halftime lead after shooting 61.3% from the field. The Longhorn reserves outscored the entire UTA team 36-34 in the first half as Texas built a 48-34 halftime lead. Texas shot 61.3% from the field in the first half as reserve Kenny Taylor poured in four 3-pointers for 12 points and Jason Klotz added eight.
Leading 26-21 with 8:33 left in the first half, Texas went on a 14-3 run to take a 40-34 lead after a Taylor 3-pointer with 3:56 to play in the half.
UTA cut the lead to 11, 68-57, with 9:16 to play in the game on a Keith Howell lay up, but Texas broke out on a 12-4 run to take an 80-61 lead after a pair of Tucker free throws with 6:49 to play.
NOTES: Sophomore forward Steven Thomas was held below 10 points for the first time this season with one field goal and eight points... Texas played without starting guard Brandon Mouton (sprained knee).
Texas 99, UTA 79
Texas-Arlington (4-6) - Obasohan 11-20 3-5 25, Thomas 1-5 4-4 8, Johnson 4-9 0-0 8, Floyd 5-11 10-11 21, K. Howell 3-9 1-1 7, J. Howell 0-0 0-0 0, Dawkins 2-3 0-0 6, Beacham 1-4 2-2 4, Neukomm 0-2 0-0 0, Henderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-63 22-25 79.
Texas (7-2) - Tucker 6-7 10-11 22, Buckman 3-9 5-5 12, Paulino 3-6 0-0 7, Harris 0-3 0-0 0, Ivey 4-4 2-6 10, Thomas 1-3 3-4 5, Moreno 5-5 0-2 11, Taylor 7-14 0-0 19, Klotz 4-4 0-0 8, BOddicker 2-7 1-2 5. Totals: 35-62 21-30 99.
Halftime: Texas 48, UTA 34. Three-point field goals: UTA 3-12 (Dawkins 2-3, Floyd 1-4, Beacham 0-2, Obasohan 0-3), Texas 8-22 (Taylor 5-12, Buckman 1-2, Paulino 1-2, Moreno 1-1, Harris 0-2, Boddicker 0-3). Rebounds: UTA 21 (Johnson and Beacham 5), Texas 48 (Boddicker and Buckman 10). Assists: UTA 11 (K. Howell 4), Texas 16 (Ivey 6). Turnovers: UTA 13 (Thomas 5), Texas 18 (Taylor 4). Blocks: UTA 1 (Obasohan), Texas 7 (Boddicker 3). Steals: UTA 11 (Five with 2), Texas 6 (Taylor 3). Total fouls: UTA 20, Texas 19. Fouled out: Johnson. Technical fouls: None. Att.: 6,574.
