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Feb. 19, 2009

Complete notes

TEXAS (17-8, 6-5 Big 12) vs. #2/2 Oklahoma (25-1, 11-0 Big 12)
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 • 8 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,755) • Austin, Texas
 
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION:  The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Dan Shulman (pxp), Dick Vitale (analyst) and Erin Andrews (reporter) 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. Westwood One Radio also will broadcast the game nationally. Brad Sham (pxp) and Ron Thompson (analyst) will have the call.
INTERNET AUDIO: Listen to Texas Basketball games on subscription-based Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast.
SERIES: Oklahoma leads, 46-27. Last meeting: Oklahoma 78-63 (Jan. 12, 2009; Norman).

Series vs. Oklahoma
Saturday's contest marks the 74th meeting between Texas and Oklahoma. The Sooners hold a 46-27 lead in the all-time series that dates back to a 59-26 OU victory in Norman on Feb. 25, 1910. The Horns have won six of the last seven contests and are 11-4 against the Sooners in the last 15 meetings between the two schools (dating back to the start of the 2002-03 season). OU sports a 16-14 lead in games played in Austin.

Home Streak Against The AP Top Five
Texas enters Saturday's contest against No. 2/2 Oklahoma with a five-game winning streak in home games against AP Top Five opponents. The last time UT dropped a home contest against an AP Top Five foe came in a 110-103 overtime defeat to No. 2 Kansas on Feb. 11, 2002.

Home Success Against The AP Top 25
Texas enters Saturday's contest against No. 2/2 Oklahoma sporting a nine-game winning streak in home games against AP Top 25 opponents. The last time UT dropped a home contest against an AP Top 25 foe came in a 74-58 decision to No. 20 Oklahoma on Feb. 28, 2005.

Texas-Texas A&M Game Notes
• Texas had two players (Damion James, Dexter Pittman) record a double-double. This marked the second time this year that UT had a pair of players post double-doubles in the same game (James and Pittman vs. Appalachian State on Jan. 2).
• The Horns posted a 34-31 advantage on the glass. This marked the 20th time in 25 games this year that Texas had outrebounded its opponent.
• Damion James (16 points, 11 rebounds) recorded his 11th double-double of the year and 32nd of his career (98 games). James reached double digits in scoring for the 23rd time this year and 61st time in his career. He reached double figures in rebounds for the 12th time this season and 42nd time in his career. James also tied his season high in assists (four).
• Dexter Pittman (13 points, 10 rebounds) recorded his third double-double of the year and fourth of his career (90 games). He reached double figures in scoring for the ninth time this year and 12th time in his career. Pittman reached double digits in rebounds for the third time this season and fourth in his career. He also tied his career high in free throws made (7-of-8).
• Gary Johnson (17 points) reached double digits in scoring for the 16th time this season and 20th time in his career (47 games). He tied his career high in field goals made (8-of-14).
• A.J. Abrams tied the UT career record for most games played (134).

Abrams Climbs UT, Big 12 Career Scoring Lists
A.J. Abrams continues his steady climb up the UT career scoring chart. He currently sits in sixth place on the school's career points list (1,810 points). Abrams also enters Saturday's game tied for 11th place on the Big 12 Conference career scoring list.

Abrams Set to Break UT Career Games Played Mark
With an appearance on the court during Saturday's game in Austin, A.J. Abrams will break the school record for most career games played (135). Abrams has played in 134 contests entering Saturday's game. Brian Boddicker (2001-04) and James Thomas (2001-04) currently share the mark with Abrams.

James Sees Double
Damion James enters Saturday's game with a team-best 11 double-doubles through the first 25 games this year. Over the last seven games, he has posted five double-doubles and is averaging 15.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. James had 16 points and 11 rebounds in Monday's loss at Texas A&M. He tallied 21 points (9-of-14 FG) and 14 rebounds during the overtime win at Colorado last Saturday (Feb. 14). He also had 14 points and 12 rebounds during the win at Baylor (Jan. 27), before posting 19 points and 12 boards against Kansas State (Jan. 31). James had 15 points and 10 rebounds (four offensive) against No. 19/22 Michigan State (Dec. 20). He returned to post 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds in the win at Wisconsin (Dec. 23). James had 11 points and 12 rebounds against No. 8/8 Notre Dame (Nov. 25). He posted 21 points and 12 rebounds against Oregon (Nov. 26) and added 13 points and a game-high 13 boards against No. 12/9 UCLA (Dec. 4).

Balbay Impressive in Starting Role
Sophomore guard Dogus Balbay has made the most of his first three career starts. In the three games, Balbay has averaged 7.0 points per contest while recording 19 assists against just five turnovers. During the win against Oklahoma State (Feb. 10), he posted a career-high 10 points (5-of-9 FG), seven assists against just one turnover and two steals in 33 minutes. Balbay returned to post six points (3-of-4 FG) and seven assists against just one turnover in a career-high 37 minutes at Colorado (Feb. 14). He had five points and five assists at Texas A&M on Monday.

Pittman Producing
Junior center Dexter Pittman ranks fourth on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.5 rpg) in just 13.5 minutes per contest. He has converted a team-best 61.7% (79-of-128) field goals and 63-of-84 (.750) free throws. Pittman has reached double figures in scoring nine times in the first 25 games after achieving the feat just three times in his first two seasons (65 games). He posted his third double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes during Monday's loss at Texas A&M.

Pittman Likes Home Cooking
Dexter Pittman has been at his best inside the friendly confines of the Erwin Center this season. In 12 home games, Pittman has averaged 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while hitting 69.3% (52-of-75) from the floor and 75.9% (41-of-54) from the free throw line in 15.0 minutes per contest. During UT's last eight home games (dating back to the Texas State game on Dec. 13), Pittman has averaged 14.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest while hitting 70.7% (41-of-58) field goals.