Longhorns' Charge Falls Short Against Sharp Cougars at Fertitta
In a clash of collegiate titans, the Texas Longhorns faced a challenging opponent in the Houston Cougars. The Longhorns, unranked and fighting to establish their presence, ended with a 61-82 defeat against the third-ranked Cougars. The Longhorns' record now stands at an even balance while the Cougars continue to assert their dominance in the season.
The game unfolded at Houston's Fertitta Center, where 7,904 fans witnessed a contest that was as much about defense as it was about scoring prowess. Despite a valiant effort by Texas, which included securing 34 total rebounds and converting 41 percent of two-point attempts into points on the board, they were unable to match Houston's intensity on both ends of the court. The home team outperformed with seven blocks and an impressive steal count of 13.
Texas showed promise in several aspects of their game; they made six three-pointers and had an assist-to-turnover ratio just shy of one (0.64). Their free throw accuracy stood at 69 percent but it wasn't enough to close the gap created by Houston's dynamic play which boasted a higher field goal percentage at 47 percent.
The Longhorns did manage to put up some resistance with four blocks and five steals but were ultimately outmaneuvered by Houston’s fast-paced offense that racked up 16 fast break points. Additionally, Texas struggled from beyond the arc hitting only six out of eighteen attempts for a three-point percentage rounding off to 33 percent.
Houston capitalized on turnovers scoring nineteen points off them compared to just four for Texas. This disparity underscored one aspect where Texas could seek improvement moving forward: ball control under pressure.
Looking ahead for Texas fans eager for redemption after this tough loss: The next opportunity comes when they host Kansas State Wildcats at Moody Center in Austin on February 19th at 8 PM Central Time. This upcoming game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 channel two hundred nine ensuring supporters can follow every moment as it unfolds.