Jan. 22, 2009
Complete notes 
#14/15 TEXAS (13-4, 2-1 Big 12) vs. TEXAS A&M (15-4, 1-3 Big 12)
State Farm Lone Star Showdown
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 • 7 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,755) • Austin, Texas
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU. Clay Matvick (pxp) and Dickey Simpkins (analyst) will call the action.
RADIO: The Longhorn Sports Network and KVET (FM 98.1/1300 AM Sportsradio The Zone) broadcast every UT game on the statewide network and on XM Satellite Radio Ch. 231. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game.
INTERNET AUDIO: Listen to Texas Basketball games on subscription-based Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast.
SERIES: Texas leads, 130-83. Last meeting: Texas 77-50 (Feb. 18, 2008; Austin).
Series vs. Texas A&M
Saturday's contest marks the 214th meeting between Texas and Texas A&M. UT owns a 130-83 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to Feb. 23, 1917 (a 38-16 Texas win in Austin). The Horns are 16-5 against the Aggies during the Rick Barnes era entering Saturday's contest. Since the beginning of the 1989-90 campaign, UT has won 35 of the last 42 meetings between the two schools. Texas holds a 75-26 advantage in games played in Austin.
State Farm Lone Star Showdown
The 2008-09 academic season marks the fifth year of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown, the all-sports athletics competition between Texas and Texas A&M. UT has won three of the first four Showdowns. The Longhorns claimed the inaugural Showdown in 2004-05 by a 14.5-4.5 point margin, recorded a 14.0-5.0 victory in 2005-06 and posted a 10.5-8.5 win in 2006-07. The Aggies registered a 10.5-8.5 victory last year. Texas holds a 3.5-1.5 lead in points in this year's Showdown standings heading into Friday night's women's swimming and diving dual meet in College Station. The winning school in Saturday's game receives 0.5 point. In order to win the Showdown, a school must acquire 10.0 points during the year.
Lone Star State Dominance
Since Rick Barnes arrived in Austin, the Longhorns have emerged as the dominant college basketball program in the state of Texas. The Horns have posted an 89-9 (.908) record against in-state foes during the Barnes era, including marks of 22-0 against Baylor, 16-5 against Texas A&M and 20-3 against Texas Tech.
Record-Setting Big 12 Home Win Streak
Texas enters Saturday's contest against Texas A&M sporting a 13-game home win streak in Big 12 Conference games. The current streak is the longest Big 12 home win streak in school history. The streak dates back to a 77-68 win against Iowa State on Feb. 10, 2007. The last time the Horns suffered a defeat in a Big 12 game at the Erwin Center came in a 73-72 loss to Kansas State on Feb. 3, 2007.
Horns at Home
Texas is in its 32nd year of play in the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns have posted an all-time record of 371-89 (.807) in the building. Since Rick Barnes arrived in Austin, UT has recorded a 146-18 (.890) mark at the Erwin Center, including a 70-11 (.864) record in Big 12 Conference home contests. Texas has a 25-8 (.758) mark against AP Top 25 teams at home during the Rick Barnes era (current streak of nine straight wins). The Horns have won 18 straight and 100 of their last 106 home games.
A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 14 in the latest Associated Press poll (Jan. 19) and tied for No. 15 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Jan. 19). UT has now been ranked in The AP Top 25 for 35 consecutive weeks (dating back to the poll on Feb. 19, 2007) and in the ESPN/USA Today poll for 37 straight weeks (Feb. 19, 2007). During the Barnes era, the Horns have spent 138 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 60 in the Top 10.
Texas-Texas Tech Game Notes
• Texas improved to 20-3 against Texas Tech during the Rick Barnes era.
• The Longhorns held Texas Tech to 34.0% FG shooting (18-of-53) on the afternoon. This marked the 11th time in 17 games this year that Texas has held its opponent below 40% FG shooting (10-1 mark in those games).
• The Horns held Texas Tech scoreless for a span of 6:47 in the first half (17:14 to 10:27), turning an 8-2 deficit into a 14-8 advantage.
• UT posted a 40-33 advantage on the glass. This marked the 13th time in the first 17 games that the Horns have outrebounded their opponent.
• Justin Mason (15 points, 10 rebounds) recorded his first career double-double. He tied his career high in rebounds. Mason reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time this year and the 26th time in his career (90 games).
• Damion James (18 points) reached double figures in points for the 16th time this year and 54th time in his career (90 games).
• Gary Johnson (15 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 11th time this year and 15th time in his career (39 games).
• A.J. Abrams (11 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 12th time this season and 80th time in his career (126 games).
• Matt Hill set a career high in minutes played (27). His six points marked a season high and the most since he had six against Nicholls State on Nov. 21, 2006. Hill's five rebounds marked a season high and the most since he had six against Texas State on Dec. 16, 2006.
Abrams Approaching Big 12 Career Triples Mark
A.J. Abrams is closing in on becoming the all-time leader in career three-point field goals made in Big 12 Conference history. Abrams has 335 career triples to his credit entering Saturday's game, just three behind the all-time mark of 338 (Jeff Boschee, Kansas, 1999-2002). He is just the third player in Big 12 history to convert at least 300 career three-pointers.
Gary Johnson = Most Improved
Sophomore forward Gary Johnson has been one of the most improved players in the Big 12 Conference thus far this season. Through the first 17 games, Johnson ranks second on the team in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and third in scoring (11.1 ppg) in 25.4 minutes per game. He recorded his first collegiate double-double with 14 points (5-of-8 FG, 4-of-5 FT) and a career-high 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes against Saint Joseph's (Nov. 24). After coming off the bench in each of UT's first 16 games, Johnson made his first start of the year in Saturday's win at Texas Tech. He responded with 15 points and seven boards in 29 minutes.
Johnson Steps It Up
Gary Johnson has posted solid offensive performances in six of the last seven games entering Saturday's contest. During these last seven games, Johnson is averaging 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest while hitting 39-of-73 (.534) field goals and 27-of-33 (.818) free throws. Against No. 19/22 Michigan State in Houston (Dec. 20), Johnson posted 20 points (8-of-12 FG, 4-of-4 FT) in 35 minutes. He returned to record 16 points (7-of-10 FG, 2-of-2 FT) and eight rebounds in 33 minutes during the win at Wisconsin (Dec. 23). During the loss at Arkansas (Jan. 6), Johnson recorded his second career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
Mason Returns to Form Against Tech
Justin Mason had one of his finest all-around performances in a Texas uniform during last Saturday's win at Texas Tech. Mason tallied his first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The 10 boards tied his career high. Six of his 10 rebounds came off the offensive glass. He converted 5-of-8 field goals (1-of-1 threes) and 4-of-5 free throws in 29 minutes. Mason's 15 points marked his highest scoring output, since he had a season-high 18 against Oregon on Nov. 26.
Hill Breaks Out at Texas Tech
Forward/center Matt Hill had a solid performance during last Saturday's win at Texas Tech. Called the "most valuable player on the court today" by Damion James in a postgame interview, Hill posted six points (3-of-5 FG), five rebounds and one block in a career-high 27 minutes. Hill's six points marked a season high and the most since he had six against Nicholls State on Nov. 21, 2006. His five rebounds also marked a season high and the most since he had six against Texas State on Dec. 16, 2006.
Balbay Thinking Pass
Sophomore guard Dogus Balbay has proven to be an improving distributor of the basketball in the last seven games entering Saturday's contest. In these last seven games, Balbay has registered 25 assists against five turnovers (a 5-to-1 ratio).
