Men's Basketball topples Texas Tech, 95-83
Jan. 27, 2010 Box Score AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Leave it to the least likely players to score to give Texas the offensive punch it needed to end a two-game skid. Justin Mason had 18 points and Dogus Balbay added 13, leading No. 6 Texas to a 95-83 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night after losses at Kansas State and Connecticut cost the Longhorns the nation's top ranking. Between them, the guards usually counted on for defense, passing and rebounding - everything BUT scoring - went into the game averaging just more than seven points. Opposing defenses had been sagging off both players all season to guard against Dexter Pittman and Damion James on the inside. Until Wednesday night, there was little reason to care if Mason and Balbay were left open. "Tonight, I thought I'd be more aggressive," Mason said. Both of them were. Balbay took Texas' first shot and Mason took the third. They combined to shoot 13 of 20 from the floor while still handing out 12 of Texas' 15 assists. "We were going to take the open shots. We talked about it before the game - we were going to attack," Balbay said. Their scoring also opened up the floor for James, the offensive catalyst for Texas (18-2, 4-1 Big 12) all season. James finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds to set the Big 12 record for career double-doubles with 48. He scored six straight points in the game-changing run midway through the second half. Mason scored 13 in the first half on 6-of-8 shooting. Texas Tech (14-6, 2-4) gave him plenty of room to move and the senior quickly found his range with a 3-pointer, short jumper and drives to the basket. Balbay also showed off a seldom-seen shooting touch with a mid-range jumper. "We backed off them to force them to make plays and they made plays," Texas Tech coach Pat Knight said. "They are two very good players." Balbay also made the defensive play of the game when he recovered after a Texas turnover and blocked a fast-break dunk attempt by Texas Tech's Theron Jenkins late in the first half. "No easy baskets," Balbay said. Even with those two scoring, the Red Raiders built an early lead. Texas Tech made eight 3-pointers in the first half - the most Texas had allowed in a game all season - and led 50-42 when Nick Okorie hit from long range. Roberson made four 3-pointers in the half. Texas cut the lead to 50-47 by halftime behind a 3-pointer by Jordan Hamilton and Pittman's tip at the buzzer. In the second, the Texas defense pushed out to the perimeter and the Red Raiders attempted just one 3-pointer in the first nine minutes. Mason fed Balbay for a fast-break dunk. Balbay then sliced through the lane for a layup that put Texas up 64-60 with just over 13 minutes to play. Texas finally created some separation behind James and a 3-pointer by Avery Bradley that put the Longhorns ahead 80-69. James took over the scoring down the stretch, finding more and more space to move under the basket and grab rebounds. He broke the Big 12 double-doubles record he shared with former Texas All-American Chris Mihm (1998-2000). "That don't mean nothing to me," James said. "It just feels good being on the winning side of the table. I'll let my mama talk about it. She'll brag about it to her friends." After the two losses, the Longhorns had dismissed any notion their season was at a crossroads heading into the second half of the season. The win keeps Texas within a game of Big 12 leader Kansas. "Coming into this game, nothing changed," Balbay said. "We still have the same game plan, still have the same intensity. We're going to play really hard, every day, every game."
POSTGAME NOTES Dogus Balbay Avery Bradley Damion James Justin Mason Dexter Pittman TEXAS QUOTES On Texas Tech: When you look at Tech, I think that Pat (Knight) did an incredible job. They were down two players that are big to them, and they came in and were terrific in the first half. They cut us up and got what they wanted. We got better defensively in the second half. I think that for him to get his team ready to play and to do what they did, you really have to give him a lot of credit. They are a much-improved team. It was a good win. On the team's gameplan tonight: Tonight we told everyone to shoot it if they got an open look because we were going to rebound it. We did a really good job of getting second-chance points tonight. We got 22 of them. We also did a great job of getting fouled, even though I would love to see us get a better percentage, we still made more than they attempted. Senior guard Justin Mason On the changes made for tonight: It was just about letting the momentum loose and going out there to play today. I found the net on a couple of open jump shots, and I was just trying to find the rim a little more. On his success tonight: It was about the offense overall. We had good ball movement, we were moving our team around the court well, and that made the difference tonight for me. On being a leader on the court: I try to be a leader on the court, especially for some of the younger guys. But tonight we got down for a little bit, and I felt like I needed to step up. I feel like a large part of it is just doing my job well. If I do that I feel like my team has a chance to win. Senior forward Damion James On tonight's game: I think if we play like we did tonight, we have a great chance of going all the way. What we did tonight was unbelievable. On tonight's setting the Big 12 career double-double record: It really doesn't mean that much to me. I'm just happy because it means we are back on the winning side of things. Though I know my mama is going tell everybody she knows about it. But for me, I just want to win, and I am glad that we are. Junior guard Dogus Balbay On the game overall: I think we looked very strong today. We were moving the ball around well. It was a very physical game and Tech is definitely a great team. I think we played well as a team tonight and if we keep playing like we did, we will have great luck this season. TEXAS TECH QUOTES On the play of Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason: We backed off of them just to force them to make plays, and they made plays. It is a gamble that you take. They are two very good players. On the Longhorns overall: The whole team is very good. This is a special team. I felt bad for them losing two in a row. People start talking, but when this season is over that is just going to be a bump in the road for this team. You have a special team here. They are just loaded. This is a deep, very good basketball team.
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