Austin, Texas ? Texas won its season opener but boy, did the Longhorns miss Kevin Durant.
Last season’s freshman phenom and national player of the year is now in the NBA, and his absence left a huge hole in the Texas offense as the 16th-ranked Longhorns scored their fewest points in a season-opening win in 25 years in a 58-37 victory over Texas-San Antonio on Monday night.
“I don’t think tonight is a real good showing of what our offense can do,” said guard A.J. Abrams, who set a Big 12 record with 120 3-pointers last season but was 3-of-10 from the field in the first game. “I think we have the offensive firepower that will eventually develop.”
Defense won this one. The Longhorns (1-0) held the Roadrunners (1-1) to 18 points in the second half and 27 percent shooting for the game.
Point guard D.J. Augustin provided most of Texas’ lightweight offensive punch, scoring 19 points to go with four assists. Justin Mason scored 12 points, and Abrams finished with 11 after both players combined for 1-of-10 shooting in the first half.
“They got tentative,” coach Rick Barnes said. “They can’t do that.”
It was a struggle from the start. The Roadrunners outrebounded Texas 17-12 in the first half while the Longhorns misfired from inside and out. Abrams was 0-for-5 in the first half and the Longhorns held a a 22-19 lead on Augustin’s short jumper at the buzzer.
“We missed four layups early in the game that could have changed things and we had some turnovers,” Barnes said.
Oklahoma 99, Alcorn St. 59.
Norman, Okla. – Freshman Blake Griffin scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Oklahoma matched its highest scoring output under Jeff Capel.
The Sooners (3-0) started the second half on a 26-6 run, capped by freshman Cade Davis’ right-handed dunk in transition, and shot 62 percent after halftime to equal its point total in a 99-36 victory against Norfolk State in Capel’s debut last season.
Missouri 87, Cent. Michigan 76.
Columbia, Mo. – DeMarre Carroll had 23 points and eight rebounds despite foul trouble that left him on the bench most of the second half, and Missouri played well enough without its star.
Leo Lyons added 18 points for the Tigers, 18-12 in coach Mike Anderson’s first season. Missouri has won 19 in a row over nonconference opponents at home, dating to a loss to Sam Houston State on Nov. 14, 2005.
