Texas guard Sir’Jabari Rice (10) drives to the basket in opposition to West Virginia ahead Emmitt Matthews Jr. (1) in the course of the second half of an NCAA school basketball sport in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sir’Jabari Rice stored making pictures, and the Texas guard wasn’t shy about celebrating.
“Talks a lot,” West Virginia coach Bob Huggins mentioned of Rice.
Huggins’ staff may do nothing to stop Rice from scoring or letting the Mountaineers learn about it en path to his season-best 24 factors in simply 17 minutes as No. 5 Texas defeated West Virginia 94-60 Saturday.
“I was just being competitive,” mentioned Rice, a guard who transferred from New Mexico State.
Thanks largely to him, Texas (20-5) remained in first place within the Big 12 at 9-3, whereas West Virginia (15-10, 4-8) misplaced for the sixth time in its final seven video games in opposition to the Longhorns.
Rice was almost good: He transformed 5 of 6 field-goal makes an attempt, together with 4 of 5 3-pointers and all 10 free throws. The Longhorns solely missed one free throw in 25 makes an attempt and hit 10 of 17 3-pointers.
Marcus Carr added 16 for Texas, making 7 of 11 pictures and contributing 4 assists and three steals. Timmy Allen had 14 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 assists — and handed the two,000-point mark for his five-year profession (2,013 factors in 144 video games).
Emmitt Matthews Jr. led West Virginia with 13 factors. The Mountaineers shot 35.2%, which is their second-worst accuracy of the season, and matched probably the most turnovers of the season with 20.
Texas scored 32 factors off West Virginia’s turnovers and had a 23-7 edge in fast-break factors in 144 video games.
Matthews, who had a season-best 20 factors in opposition to Iowa State on Wednesday, scored 9 of West Virginia’s first 12. But the Mountaineers did not make the most of that begin.
They dedicated 13 turnovers within the half, matching their common per sport, and Texas led 51-30 on the break.
The Longhorns went 16-for-16 on the free-throw line within the first half, matching probably the most they’ve ever made in a half with out lacking.
Fouls calls and free throws had been about even for the 2 groups, however Huggins mentioned Texas was probably the most bodily opponent the Mountaineers have confronted this season.
“I don’t think we were prepared for the physicality … I think that bothered us,” Huggins mentioned.
Allen mentioned the Longhorns at all times need to play that manner.
“That’s our mindset,” Allen mentioned. “Be physical when we guard. Be physical on rebounds.”
Interim coach Rodney Terry steered the Longhorns lacked that toughness throughout a loss at Kansas on Monday.
“You have to be willing to do the dirty work,” Terry mentioned. “You have to be willing to have some grit.”
BIG PICTURE
The Mountaineers hit a wall after arriving in Austin with some momentum. They gained 5 of their earlier seven video games after shedding 5 straight in January. Their subsequent opponent is No. 14 Baylor, which might be their third sport in six days. They beat No. 11 Iowa State on Wednesday in Morgantown.
Texas: The Longhorns haven’t misplaced two in a row this season, giving them their greatest report by 25 video games since 2010-11, once they had been 22-3.
BIG MONDAY AGAIN
The Longhorns appear to be monopolizing ESPN’s Big Monday telecasts. Their upcoming sport at Texas Tech is the third week in a row they seem on that telecast.
So far, they’re 1-1 after the short Saturday-to-Monday turnaround, beating Baylor in Austin and shedding at Kansas.
Terry mentioned he doesn’t thoughts having solely at some point between video games, saying “it does prepare you for postseason play” — solely with the addition of journey between matchups.
UP NEXT
West Virginia: At No. 14 Baylor on Monday.
Texas: At Texas Tech on Monday.
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