AP

No. 12 Texas bolts to big lead, shuts down Houston Christian

Nov 10, 2022, 6:20 AM | Updated: 9:19 pm

Houston Christian forward Jason Thompson (5) is blocked by Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) as he tries...

Houston Christian forward Jason Thompson (5) is blocked by Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) as he tries to score during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)


              Houston Christian guard Pierce Bazil (2) loses control of the ball as he drives to the basket against Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Houston Christian guard Pierce Bazil (2) is blocked by Texas forward Timmy Allen (0) as he tries to score during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Texas guard Arterio Morris (2) scores over Houston Christian forward Tristan Moore (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Houston Christian guard Andrew King (10) is pressured by Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Houston Christian forward Jason Thompson, top right, is fouled by Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) as he drives to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Houston Christian forward Sam Hofman (33) looks to shoot against Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
            
              Houston Christian forward Jason Thompson (5) is blocked by Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) as he tries to score during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Marcus Carr scored 11 points and had four steals as No. 12 Texas used suffocating defense and a relentless fast break to defeat Houston Christian 82-31 Thursday night.

The Longhorns (2-0) raced to a 16-0 lead in the first five minutes. Texas forced 21 turnovers in the game, including 12 steals, that resulted in 32 points.

Texas had a 27-0 edge in fast-break points.

“We want to push the ball,” freshman Dillon Mitchell said. “When we go out and run we’re a dangerous team.”

Sir’Jabari Rice scored 11 points for Texas. Mitchell had 10 points and 12 rebounds, including eight of the Longhorns’ 21 on offense. They scored 19 second-chance points.

“We want to be one of the top teams in the country as far as crashing the boards,” Mitchell said. “That was a big emphasis.”

Timmy Allen had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Tyrese Hunter scored 10 points and seven rebounds.

Dylan Disu, who spent much of last season playing while recovering from knee surgery, looked spry, scoring eight points and making two blocks, one by chasing down a fast-breaking Brycen Long.

“That’s a big-time play, man,” coach Chris Beard said.

The Longhorns were strong inside, producing 52 points in the paint and outrebounding Houston Christian 56-33. But Texas made just 3 of 22 3-point attempts, missing its first 14.

“We’ll shoot the ball better,” Beard said. “I’m not worried.”

Texas raced to a 39-12 halftime lead as Houston Christian (0-2) committed 16 turnovers. The Longhorns scored 30 points in the paint but missed all 11 of their 3-pointers in the period. And it didn’t matter.

“Their pressure — they are so good defensively,” Houston Christian coach Ron Cottrell said.

BIG PICTURE

Houston Christian: Tristan Moore led Houston Christian with eight points. The Huskies shot 21.7%. The Huskies never gave themselves a chance. They missed their first five shots and committed seven turnovers while quickly falling far behind. “Obviously, they came out and blitzed us,” Cottrell said.

Texas: The Longhorns advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament by beating Virginia Tech last season, Beard’s first as the school’s coach. But they had some deficiencies, including a lack of superior athleticism. The addition of the 6-foot-8 Mitchell signals improvement in that area. During one stretch of less than two minutes in the first half, Mitchell cut along the baseline to dunk a pass from Hunter, ran down Pierce Bazil to block a fast-break layup attempt from behind, and converted an offensive rebound in to a layup.

LONGHORNS SALUTES DARIUS LEE

Texas honored Darius Lee, the Houston Baptist star who was shot and killed on June 20 in New York City, his hometown. The Longhorns gave shirts with Lee’s number, 23, to Houston Christian players.

“To see them do that was really special,” Cottrell said. “We’re seeing too much around the country right now with people losing friends and family and teammates to gun violence. It’s hard to put into words the emotion we’ve gone through.”

Beard said he appreciated his players coming up with the idea.

“It meant a lot to me,” Beard said.

UP NEXT

Houston Christian hosts Champion Christian, an NCAA Division II team from Hot Springs, Arkansas, on Monday.

Texas hosts No. 2 Gonzaga on Wednesday. Gonzaga defeated Texas 86-74 last season in Spokane.

___

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://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. 12 Texas bolts to big lead, shuts down Houston Christian