Rapid Recap: Longhorns shoot over 60 percent for the first time since 2022 in 80-64 win over Rice

The No. 19 Texas Longhorns shot a season-best 60 percent from the field with double-digit scoring efforts from Tyrese Hunter, Kadin Shedrick, and Max Abmas and improved to 3-0 on the season with a 80-64 win over the Rice Owls.

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Hunter and Shedrick recorded their best scoring efforts of the young year versus the Owls. Hunter added 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting while Shedrick scored 15 during his first start as a Longhorn. Abmas contributed to the winning effort with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Texas’ night from the field is the first time the Horns have shot over 60 percent since an 82-81 win at West Virginia on February 26, 2022. It’s the first time in Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry’s tenure that Texas has eclipsed that threshold. UT also shot a strong 46 percent from three on 10-of-22 from distance.

The Horns held a 41-32 lead at the half before quickly extending the lead to 15 before the U16 timeout. Texas shot 61 percent from the field in the first half and had a one point decline in the second half with a 60 percent showing.

Owl center Max Fiedler was a focus of the Longhorn defensive gameplan. Entering the game averaging 14.5 points and having recorded 10 points and seven assists versus Texas last season in a contest that went to overtime, the Longhorns limited Fiedler to seven points, four rebounds, and five assists and forced other Rice players to pick up the slack on the offensive end.

Anthony Selden and Travis Evee tried their best for Rice, scoring 17 and 11 points, respectively. No other Owl had more than seven points, and Rice couldn’t keep up with Texas’ shooting efforts. Rice shot 38 percent on the night, 22 percentage points behind the Horns. Texas was 10-for-22 from three, in comparison the Owls were 4-for-22.

Texas raced out to a 12-point lead in the first 10 minutes of the first half thanks to a blazing start from the field. Ithiel Horton scored seven quick points and the Longhorns started 10-for-14 from the field. Horton only played three minutes in the second half due to defensive lapses.

The Owls made things close as the minutes ticked down closer to halftime. Texas was 4-for-8 to close the half, but their opportunities were limited as a result of four turnovers in a five minute span. Meanwhile, Rice kept possession of the ball and although Fiedler was ineffective thanks to the efforts of Shedrick and Ze’Rik Onyema, other Owls picked up the slack. Selden added nine points on 3-of-6 shooting in the first 20 minutes, while Evee caught some momentum to cut the Longhorn lead down to as little as four with just over two minutes remaining before the break.

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Texas kept the Owls scoreless over the final 2:21 of the half, in large part thanks to a defensive stand from Brock Cunningham and Dillon Mitchell. With under 90 seconds left in the half Mitchell blocked a Selden three-point attempt then Cunningham did the same to Sam Alajiki’s shot to force a shot clock violation. A Hunter three and then two Chendall Weaver free throws helped the Horns push the lead back to nine at half, 41-32.

Shedrick hit his second career three during the contest. His previous three was versus Michigan for the Cavaliers in a contest on November 29 of last year. Shedrick started 34 games with 76 total appearances and averaged six points and just over four rebounds per contest with Virginia.

Despite other strong shooting metrics, Texas was just 12-for-22 at the line including a 5-for-12 effort in the second half. The Longhorns outrebounded Rice 37-27. Mitchell pulled down a career best 13 rebounds.

After a 19-turnover night last time out versus Delaware State, Texas committed 16 turnovers and gave up 13 points off those turnovers. Rice managed just two second chance points in a game Texas led for a 39:47 and never trailed.

The Longhorns next are on the floor Sunday in Madison Square Garden versus Louisville as part of the Saatva Empire Classic.