AUSTIN — Gardner-Webb led once Thursday night, by one point, early on. After that Texas took over at Moody Center and won 98-50.
The Longhorns (2-0) led 54-20 at halftime. They shot 61% from the field (34 of 56) and outscored the Runnin’ Bulldogs 54-10 in the paint. Texas got as far as 53 points ahead and led for 97% of the game.
Matas Vokietaitis led Texas with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. That follows his 22-point game in Monday’s 109-59 opener against Chicago State. Seven Longhorns scored in double figures. Isaiah Johnson had 15 and went 5 for 5 at the line. Marcus Spears Jr. scored 13 on 5-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench. Joe Sterling also had 13 and made 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Austin Goosby added 11 points, five steals and three assists, and David Punch and Elyjah Freeman scored 10 each.
Most of the damage came from Texas’ defense. Gardner-Webb (0-2) turned it over 23 times, and Texas scored 31 points off those mistakes. The Bulldogs scored eight points off Texas’ 10 turnovers. Texas had 13 steals and a 28-2 edge in fast-break points.
Texas outrebounded Gardner-Webb 37-23 and had 28 defensive boards. Bo Ogden had five rebounds in 16 minutes. Amari Evans and Freeman each had four assists, and Texas assisted on 17 of its 34 field goals.
The Longhorns made only 6 of 18 from deep and did not need more. They went 24 of 31 at the free-throw line (77%). The bench outscored Gardner-Webb’s bench 36-23, and 10 Texas players scored.
Gardner-Webb shot 33% (15 of 45) and 5 of 23 from 3-point range. Mikhali Pocknett and Jamias Ferere scored 12 each. Pocknett went 6 of 9 at the line but had five turnovers. Ferere needed 11 shots to get his 12. Jackson Skipper made two 3-pointers and finished with six points.
Texas outscored Gardner-Webb 44-30 after halftime. The Bulldogs have now lost their first two games to top-10 teams by a combined 88 points. They lost 86-46 at No. 4 UConn on Monday.
By the Numbers
- FG: Texas 34-56 (61%), Gardner-Webb 15-45 (33%)
- 3PT: Texas 6-18, Gardner-Webb 5-23
- FT: Texas 24-31, Gardner-Webb 15-23
- Rebounds: Texas 37, Gardner-Webb 23
- Turnovers: Gardner-Webb 23, Texas 10
- Points off turnovers: Texas 31-8
- Paint: Texas 54-10
- Fast break: Texas 28-2
