Texas 69, Mississippi State 55: Sheldon McClellan scored 19 points and Julien Lewis had 15 as the Longhorns salvaged a victory in a consolation game at the Maui Invitational.
Cameron Ridley - a 6-9, 270-pound freshman center for the Longhorns (3-2) - contributed eight points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots. McClellan averaged 14.3 points in the three tournament games while Lewis averaged 14.
Mississippi State (1-4) was led by Roquez Johnson with 18 points, six rebounds and six steals. Fred Thomas scored 10 points.
Mississippi State allowed the game's first nine points in its 46-point loss to North Carolina in the tournament opener Monday and the first eight in a 27-point loss to Marquette a day later. The Bulldogs did a better job of staying with the Longhorns early, taking their first lead of the tournament on the game’s first basket.
Texas eventually went on a 20-3 first-half run while the Bulldogs went six minutes without scoring, putting the Longhorns ahead 31-13. Mississippi State never climbed back within single digits.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The six steals by Johnson was the most by a Mississippi State player since Phil Turner also recorded six in 2009. … The Longhorns committed 22 turnovers, including eight by Lewis, but made up for it with 12 blocked shots and 16 offensive rebounds. … Because of injuries and suspensions, Mississippi State brought just eight players to the tournament, including two walk-ons.
Mississippi St. | Texas | |
Roquez Johnson 18 | Scoring | Sheldon McClellan 19 |
Fred Thomas 4 | Assists | Javan Felix 7 |
Gavin Ware 7 | Rebounds | Cameron Ridley 12 |
Fred Thomas 5 | Free Throws Made | Javan Felix 3 |
Roquez Johnson 6 | Steals | Cameron Ridley 3 |
Roquez Johnson 1 | Blocks | Cameron Ridley 5 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Mississippi St. | 55 | 33.3 | 4-11 | 17-28 | 11 | 28 | 2 | 12 | 18 |
Texas | 69 | 50.0 | 10-18 | 7-16 | 15 | 39 | 12 | 9 | 22 |