Andrew Jones scored 19 points in leading short-handed yet balanced No. 4 Texas to a dominating 82-67 win over Kansas State on Saturday in a Big 12 Conference dustup in Austin, Texas.
The Longhorns (11-2, 5-1 Big 12) rebounded in a big way from a last-basket, 79-77 loss to No. 15 Texas Tech on Wednesday. Texas has won seven of its past eight games.
Kansas State was down to nine scholarship players, while Texas had just eight available.
The Longhorns' quality depth, even without three major rotation players, was still too much for the Wildcats as Texas led 44-24 at halftime, built the lead to 28 points three minutes into the second half and cruised to the finish.
Kamaka Hepa matched a career-high 15 points with a career-best five 3-pointers for Texas, with Courtney Ramey and Jericho Sims scoring 14 points apiece. The Longhorns were without starter Greg Brown III and key reserves Brock Cunningham and Kai Jones, who missed their first games of the year due to COVID-19 protocols.
Davion Bradford's 14 points led Kansas State (5-9, 1-5), which dropped its fourth straight game. Rudi Williams added 12, and DaJuan Gordon and Mike McGuirl scored 11 points each in the loss.
Kansas State returned to the court after its scheduled game at home against Iowa State on Wednesday was postponed due to limited numbers for injuries and COVID-19. The Wildcats had just eight healthy players, including six on scholarship, in their most recent outing, a 70-54 setback to Oklahoma State on Jan. 9.
The game was tied at 12 with 12:59 to play in the first half before the Longhorns ran off the ensuing 18 points over a seven-minute stretch, taking charge at 30-12.
The Longhorns outshot Kansas State 57 percent to 30 percent in the half as Jones hit for 13 points and Ramey added 12 over the first 20 minutes.
The Wildcats were paced by Williams' eight points at the break.
--Field Level Media
Kansas State | Texas | |
Davion Bradford 14 | Scoring | Andrew Jones 19 |
Mike McGuirl 4 | Assists | Courtney Ramey 9 |
Davion Bradford 7 | Rebounds | Jericho Sims 7 |
Selton Miguel 3 | Free Throws Made | Courtney Ramey 3 |
Antonio Gordon 1 | Steals | Matt Coleman III 2 |
Davion Bradford 1 | Blocks | Jase Febres 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Kansas State | 67 | 43.1 | 7-19 | 10-16 | 12 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
Texas | 82 | 52.5 | 12-31 | 8-14 | 17 | 32 | 4 | 9 | 10 |