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No. 21 BYU pounds the paint for 40 points in 84-72 win over Texas Longhorns
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 21 BYU shot 64% from the field and the Texas Longhorns made just 10 field goals in the second half in an 84-72 loss Saturday to the Cougars at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
Texas had won two consecutive games against ranked opponents, No. 9 Baylor and No. 11 Oklahoma, coming into the game while the Cougars had lost two straight. However, BYU scored 40 points in the paint and made 18 combined layups and dunks with great passing and cutting to the rim. BYU scored on more than 60% of its possessions and was able to overcome 16 turnovers in front of a raucous crowd of 17,878.
Dylan Disu led the Longhorns with 19 points on 8 of 16 shooting and seven rebounds. Chendall Weaver provided a big boost to the Longhorns off the bench with 15 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes while Max Abmas had 12 points on 4 of 12 shooting.
Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry said his team went into the game knowing they had to guard well on the perimeter against a great shooting team.
"We tried to make them take tough 2s and take their 3s away," he said. "At times, we got spread out a bit and that hurt us in the paint with their cuts and passing ability."
Texas trailed by three at halftime 44-41 and shot 51.5% in the first half, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range, but the ball didn't go in the bucket nearly as much in the second half. Texas was 10 of 28 from the field and 3 for 13 from 3-point range. BYU outrebounded the Longhorns 32-24 and shot 41% from 3-point range.
Five BYU players scored in double figures including two of their bench players. Noah Waterman and Jaxson Robinson each scored 17 points and combined to shoot 15 for 22 from the field. Fousseyni Traore had 16 points in 17 minutes for the Cougars off the bench and missed just one of his seven shots. Spencer Johnson and Richie Saunders each scored 11 points.
Texas (14-6, 3-4 Big 12) has a quick turnaround and a big game at home Monday against No. 4 Houston. Opening tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.