AP

No. 5 Texas gets Beard first win, 92-48 over Houston Baptist

Nov 9, 2021, 6:38 AM | Updated: 9:42 pm

Texas forward Tre Mitchell (33) drives against Houston Baptist forward Zion Tordoff (15) during an ...

Texas forward Tre Mitchell (33) drives against Houston Baptist forward Zion Tordoff (15) during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)


              Texas forward Tre Mitchell (33) drives against Houston Baptist forward Zion Tordoff (15) during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Texas guard Courtney Ramey (3) celebrates a score against Houston Baptist during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Texas guard Marcus Carr, right, Houston Baptist guard Az-Ontay Boothman, left, and forward Zion Tordoff, center, scramble for a loose ball during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Texas guard Andrew Jones (1) celebrates a play during an NCAA college basketball game against Houston Baptist, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Houston Baptist guard Az-Ontay Boothman (2) drives against Texas forward Timmy Allen (0) and guard Andrew Jones (1) during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) celebrates a play during an NCAA college basketball game against Houston Baptist, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Texas forward Timmy Allen (0) is defended by Houston Baptist forward Sam Hofman (33) as he passes during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Texas head coach Chris Beard signals to his players during an NCAA college basketball game against Houston Baptist, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Chris Beard is doing everything he can to pump new energy into Texas basketball.

He rebuilt the lineup with all-star transfer talent. He promised a campus party if the students packed their section in the stands for the season opener.

And after No. 5 Texas routed Houston Baptist 92-48 on Tuesday night behind 13 points from Tre Mitchell — with five others scoring in double figures — Beard invited the students onto the court for a team photo.

Hundreds rushed in.

“Our guys were dialed in and played well tonight,” Beard said. “It was a great crowd. There was a buzz in our locker room. Special thank you to the students, they turned out.”

Beard came from Texas Tech, where he led the Red Raiders to the NCAA Tournament final in 2019. He took over for Shaka Smart, who didn’t win an NCAA Tournament game in six seasons at Texas.

Beard quickly dove into the NCAA transfer portal for as much talent as he could find, and what he landed quickly built big expectations. Texas’ ranking to start the season is the program’s highest since the Longhorns were No. 3 to start the 2009-10 season.

And the transfers made the immediate impact that was expected.

Point guard Marcus Carr, a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season at Minnesota, scored eight of Texas’ first 18 points and had five assists. Forward Timmy Allen, who was all-Pac-12 last season at Utah, scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Mitchell, first-team all conference in the Atlantic 10 at UMass last season, did most of his scoring in the second half.

Texas’ returning players from Smart’s last team aren’t forgotten, far from it. Senior guards Courtney Ramey and Andrew Jones each scored 11 points and combined for six of Texas’ 3-pointers.

“It was fun to play again … Over time, I think we could grow into something special,” Ramey said. “We have a lot of leaders on this team.”

Texas led 43-27 at halftime. Jones opened the second half with a 3-pointer, then had a steal for a fast-break layup. Consecutive 3-pointers from Ramey made it 54-29 and quickly turned the game into a blowout. Texas shot 64%.

Dispatching Houston Baptist is one thing. A much bigger test awaits: The Longhorns play Saturday at No. 1 Gonzaga, which lost to Baylor in last season’s NCAA Tournament final (and beat Dixie State by 34 on Tuesday night).

“I like our shooting this year. Shot selection this year is going to be a big part of our journey,” Beard said. “I think our offense could be something special come February and March.”

Za-Ontay Boothman scored 12 points for Houston Baptist.

“Texas is everything they are advertised … deep, talented and athletic,” Houston Baptist coach Ron Cottrell said. “The days of rebuilding a program (slowly) are over. You can kiss that goodbye, It’s build a team every year. Chris has done a good job as anybody.”

STILL WAITING

One of Texas’ big transfers isn’t yet ready to play. Forward Dylan Disu from Vanderbilt led the Southeastern Conference in rebounding last season at 9.2 per game and averaged 15 points, but missed the last eight games of last season with a knee injury.

STILL AROUND

Jones is in his sixth season in the Texas program. He was diagnosed with leukemia in January 2018 and sat out the rest of that season, then played only two games of the 2018-2019 season. He was granted two medical redshirts, and because NCAA rule changes caused by the pandemic, he would still have another season of eligibility next year. He led Texas in scoring last season with 14.6 points per game. He’ll turn 24 in December.

BIG PICTURE

Houston Baptist: Cottrell is in his 31st year and will have to wait a few games to reach the 500-victory milestone. He’s still at 497.

Texas: Beard inviting the students to the court for the photo was just the latest in his efforts to engage fans who have been mostly indifferent for years. He’s also scheduled a game later this month to be played in the old Gregory Gym, the small arena in the heart of campus where Texas used to play 50 years ago. That game will be for students only. Texas has sold nearly 9,000 season tickets, a program record.

UP NEXT

Houston Baptist: Hosts Barclay College on Saturday

Texas: At No. 1 Gonzaga on Saturday.

___

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

No. 5 Texas gets Beard first win, 92-48 over Houston Baptist