Longhorns’ Jones has leukemia

Hours after announcement, Texas knocks off TCU in double overtime

AUSTIN, Texas — Andrew Jones flirted with leaving Texas for the NBA before returning to school for what he hoped would be a big sophomore season and a splash in the next draft.

He was on his way. The shooting guard was the Longhorns’ leading scorer through the start of what looked like a big season. After a wrist fracture sidelined him for a few games, his return to the lineup was going to be big: the Big 12 season opener against Kansas.

He hardly played. Same thing for the next game at Iowa State. Two games, 20 minutes total. The 20-year-old Jones had told his coaches he was tired. No energy. Texas sent him for tests.

Then Jones didn’t travel to a game last Saturday just 90 miles away at Baylor. By Tuesday, coach Shaka Smart looked shaken and on the verge of tears when he said he couldn’t discuss what was ailing Jones out of “respect for the family.”

On Wednesday, the school announced Jones has been diagnosed with leukemia and had started treatment.

“Speaking for our entire team and staff, we love Andrew and will do everything we can to support his family and help him get back to health,” Smart said in the university statement, and no further details were released.

“We hope everyone will keep him in your thoughts and prayers,” the Jones family said in the statement. “This is obviously a difficult situation for our family, and we hope everyone will respect our privacy at this time.”

Just hours after the announcement, the Longhorns got their biggest win of the season, upsetting No. 16 TCU 99-98 in double overtime.

Jericho Sims made a free throw with 5 seconds left, then Texas watched as TCU’s Jaylen Fisher missed a layup off the rim at the final buzzer.

The Longhorns wore “AJ1” patches on their jerseys. During pregame introductions, the Texas bench left a seat open and draped Jones’ jersey across the back.

Jones, who is from Irving in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, averaged nearly 12 points as a freshman and considered leaving for the NBA draft after but returned to Texas after attending the scouting combine. His sister, Alexis, was a standout at Baylor and plays for the WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx.

Jones’ family has dealt with challenges in the past. Andrew was 7 in 2007 when his father was paralyzed in a car accident on an icy road. Jones was ejected from the car but escaped with only some bruising. No. 1 VILLANOVA 89, No. 10 XAVIER 65: In Philadelphia, Phil Booth hit five 3s and scored 21 points and Jalen Brunson had 17 to lead the Wildcats (15-1, 3-1 Big East) over the Musketeers (15-3, 3-2). No. 4 MICHIGAN STATE 76, RUTGERS 72 (OT): In East Lansing, Mich., Miles Bridges ended his scoreless start with 7:43 left in regulation and finished with just 11 points to barely help the Spartans (16-2, 4-1 Big Ten) bounce back from a loss to Ohio State with an overtime victory over the Scarlet Knights (11-7, 1-4). No. 7 DUKE 87, PITTSBURGH 52: In Pittsbugh, Marvin Bagley III scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and the Blue Devils (14-2, 2-2 ACC) had little trouble bouncing back from a loss to North Carolina State by drilling the overmatched Panthers (8-9, 0-4). LOUISVILLE 73, No. 23 FLORIDA STATE 69: In Tallahassee, Fla., Deng Adel scored 16 points and the Cardinals (12-4, 2-1 ACC) rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to snap the Seminoles’ (12-4, 1-3) 28-game home winning streak.

COLORADO STATE 84, UTAH STATE 75: In Logan, Utah, junior guard Prentiss Nixon scored 26 points as the Rams (9-9, 2-3 MWC) beat the Aggies (10-8, 3-2). Sam Merrill had 18 points for Utah State. UNLV 81, AIR FORCE 76: In Air Force Academy, Colo., Jovan Mooring hit a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to help the Rebels (13-4, 2-2) stop the Falcons (6-10, 0-4).

Women

TCU 79, No. 7 TEXAS 77: In Waco, Texas, Kianna Ray made two free throws with 6 seconds left and the Horned Frogs (11-5, 2-3 Big 12) beat a Top 10 team for the first time in more than eight years, upsetting the Longhorns (13-2, 2-1).

No. 15 WEST VIRGINIA 74, KANSAS 54: In Lawrence, Kan., Naomi Davenport hit four 3-pointers and finished with 22 points as the Mountaineers (15-2, 3-2 Big 12) beat the Jayhawks (11-5, 2-3).