Dominant Victory: Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over Northwestern State, 77-53!

AUSTIN, Texas — Freshman guard Tre Johnson tallied a team-high 18 points to propel Texas (11-2) to a 77-53 triumph over Northwestern State (5-7) on Sunday afternoon in Moody Center. The Longhorns maintained a lead from beginning to end for the fourth consecutive game and the seventh time in their initial 13 matchups this season.

Johnson, who had been sidelined for the prior two games due to a right hip ailment, made 7-of-11 shots from the field, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, matched a season-best with four assists, and added four rebounds in 22 minutes. Junior Jordan Pope contributed 11 points (3-8 threes) in 28 minutes, while senior Arthur Kaluma recorded a game-high 13 rebounds, five points, and two blocks in 24 minutes.

Graduate Jayson Kent, who had been out for the last eight games due to a right wrist injury, returned to action and accumulated nine points (3-4 FG, 1-2 threes, 2-2 FT) in 18 minutes. With his free throw at the 5:31 mark of the second half, Kent reached the 1,000-point milestone in his collegiate career and has now achieved 1,004 points in 129 career games. Kent became the fifth active Longhorn to surpass the 1,000-point mark, joining Kaluma, Tramon Mark, Pope, and Julian Larry.

Throughout the game, Texas shot 50.0 percent (27-54) from the field, with a 44.0 percent accuracy (11-25) from three-point territory, and made 12-of-15 (.800) free throws. The Longhorns restricted Northwestern State to only 53 points on 38.2 percent (21-55) shooting from the field, including a dismal 17.6 percent (3-17) from beyond the arc. Texas also achieved a plus-16 (42-26) rebound advantage during the win.

Texas raced out to an 8-0 lead following a Mark three-pointer at the 16:45 mark. After a Kaluma layup boosted the Longhorns to a 10-3 lead with 15:17 remaining, the Demons responded with a 6-0 run over the next three minutes to narrow the deficit to 10-9 after an Addison Patterson layup at the 12:43 mark. Following another Patterson layup that cut the lead to 12-11 with 10:15 remaining, Texas countered with five consecutive points to establish a 17-11 lead after a Johnson jumper at the 8:33 mark.

A Jerald Colonel jumper reduced the score to 21-15 with 6:21 left, before the Longhorns embarked on a 9-0 spurt over the next two-plus minutes to extend their lead to 30-15 after another Johnson jumper at the 4:02 mark. A Jon Sanders free throw trimmed the deficit to 32-18 with 2:48 remaining, and Texas finished the half with a 9-4 run to seize a 41-22 lead at halftime.

The Longhorns scored the opening eight points of the second half to widen their advantage to 49-22 after a Kaluma three-pointer at the 15:50 mark. Texas expanded the margin to 30 points (56-26) after a Chendall Weaver dunk with 13:50 remaining. The Demons could not get within 21 points for the rest of the contest.

Texas will be back in action when they commence Southeastern Conference play at No. 13/13 Texas A&M on Saturday, Jan. 4. The tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Central at Reed Arena, with the matchup being broadcasted nationally by SEC Network.

Texas Basketball Postgame Highlights

Texas 77, Northwestern State 53

December 29, 2024

Moody Center (Austin, Texas)

Attendance: 10,565

Team Highlights

• Texas improved to 8-1 in home games this season and holds a 38-6 all-time record at Moody Center.
• UT led from the onset for the fourth consecutive game and the seventh occasion in their first 13 outings of the season.

• The Longhorns shot 50.0 percent (27-54) from the field, with a 44.0 percent success rate (11-25) from three-point territory during the game. This was the eighth occasion in the first 13 games that Texas has shot at least 50 percent overall.
• Texas attained a +16 (42-26) rebounding margin in the win.
• The Longhorns restricted Northwestern State to 53 points on 38.2 percent (21-55) shooting overall, including a mere 17.6 percent (3-17) from three-point range in the game.
• Six UT players scored no less than seven points in the victory.
• Texas converted 62.5 percent (15-24) from the floor, with a 50 percent (6-12) mark from beyond the arc, and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line in the first half while establishing a 41-22 halftime lead.
• The Longhorns held the Demons to 22 points on just 30 percent (9-30) shooting from the field, including a 1-of-10 (.100) from three-point land, in the opening half.
• Every one of the nine Texas players who participated in the first half scored and made at least one basket.

Tre Johnson

• Achieved double figures in scoring (team-high 18 points) for the 10th occasion in his career (11 games)
• Matched his season high in assists (4)
• Played in his first game since Dec. 12 against New Mexico State (had been out for the previous two games due to a right hip injury)

Arthur Kaluma

• Achieved double digits in rebounds (13) for the fifth time this season (13 games) and the 14th time in his career (114 games)

Jayson Kent

• With his free throw at the 5:31 mark of the second half, he surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in his collegiate career
• Has recorded 1,004 points over 129 career games
• Returned to the court for the first time since Nov. 16 against Mississippi Valley State (had missed the previous eight games due to a right wrist injury)

Jordan Pope

• Achieved double figures in scoring (11 points) for the seventh occasion this season (13 games) and the 61st time in his career (77 games)

Kadin Shedrick

• Recorded two blocks in 24 minutes
• Has achieved multiple blocks in 10 of his first 13 games this season
• Registered a team-leading plus-minus total of plus-24 during the game