Texas Gives Smart 1st Longhorns Win 67-56
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AUSTIN (AP) — Cam Ridley had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Texas gave new coach Shaka Smart his first Longhorns win in his home debut, 67-56 over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday night.
Connor Lammert added 12 points and nine rebounds for Texas (1-1). Lammert and Javan Felix combined for 14 points in the key second-half burst that gave the Longhorns breathing room against the Islanders (1-2).
Texas played its first game in China and lost to Washington, but returned home to show off the pressure defense and up-tempo offense Smart promised when he was hired.
Smart came to Texas after six seasons at Virginia Commonwealth. He replaced Rick Barnes, who was fired after 17 seasons, 16 of which Texas made the NCAA tournament.
Bryce Douvier scored 14 points for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which stayed within five points midway through the second half before fading late.
The win on their home court was just a stopover for the traveling Longhorns. The season-opener in Shanghai was a 15,000 mile roundtrip and the Longhorns next get on a plane for a 1,500-mile trip to play old Big 12 rival Texas A&M on Wednesday in the Battle 4 Atlantis Thanksgiving holiday tournament in the Bahamas.
Even with their legs sapped by jet lag from their travels, the Longhorns went early to the up-tempo offense and pressure defense Smart brought from VCU. Texas shot 50 percent or better for most of the first half and forced nine early turnovers, turning them into 11 points in building a 37-28 lead by halftime.
The Longhorns also used their considerable size advantage under the basket. After getting dominated on the boards by Washington, Ridley and Lammert, who both stand 6-10, combined for 11 first-half rebounds.
Texas started slow in the second half, with just two points over the first four minutes. Ehab Amin's steal and layup from Ridley kept the Islanders within 43-38 with 11 minutes left, forcing Smart to call a timeout.
Lammert then hit a 3-pointer out of the break, the first of eight straight points from him, and Texas stretched the lead to 58-47 on consecutive 3-pointers by Felix. Texas made eight 3-pointers and held the Islanders to 25 percent shooting.
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TIP-INS
Texas: Smart is already off to a better start than his predecessor. Barnes started 0-4 in his first season at Texas in 1998-99 but rebounded that season to win the Big 12 title.
Texas A&M-CC: The Islanders will be hoping an experienced lineup can carry them a long way after a 20-win season last season. With eight seniors, the Islanders are second only to Tulsa with the most in the country.
UP NEXT
Texas plays Texas A&M at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas on Wednesday
Texas A&M-CC hosts St. Edwards on Monday
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