Brown’s 18 points lead Texas over Texas State
AUSTIN — Freshman Greg Brown scored 18 points and No. 13 Texas eased past Texas State 74-53 Wednesday night in the Longhorns’ final non-conference tune-up before the start of Big 12 play.
Texas had nine dunks on 12 baskets in the first half. Jericho Sims started the scoring with a slam and the floodgates opened from there.
Texas led 33-20 at halftime and appeared to be cruising before the Bobcats started whittling away at the deficit. Baskets by Isaiah Small twice got the Bobcats within seven before Texas answered each time with 3-pointers by Matt Coleman III and Courtney Ramey.
A baseline dunk from Andrew Jones and a 3-pointer from Brown a minute later pushed the Longhorns’ lead back to 16. Brown then hit two in a row from long range to push the lead to 68-49 with 2 minutes left.
Jones and Ramey each scored 11 points for the Longhorns (5-1), who are off to a strong start with their highest ranking in six seasons under Shaka Smart, who just last season was facing intense pressure for his job.
Mason Harrell scored 14 points for Texas State (3-2) .
BIG PICTURE
Texas State: The Bobcats were overmatched physically but play hard for interim coach Terrence Johnson. Texas State was turned upside down over the summer when former coach Danny Kaspar was suspended and later resigned while under investigation for allegations he directed racist taunts at Black players.
Texas: The Longhorns are waiting for Sims to assert himself. Smart acknowledged this week the team is pushing the senior for more production after he averaged under 7 points and 7 rebounds over the first five games. He was still in the startling lineup against Texas State and finished with eight points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes.
UP NEXT:
Texas State hosts Our Lady of the Lake on Saturday.
Texas travels to No. 2 Baylor on Sunday for the Big 12 opener.