Dec. 16, 2006

Box Score

AUSTIN - Texas guard D.J. Augustin scored 24 points including a 12-of-13 performance at the free throw line to lead the Longhorns to a 96-70 win over Texas State Saturday at the Erwin Center.

Texas State is now 4-6 and wraps up a four-game stretch against members of the University of Texas System Tuesday when the Bobcats travel to UTEP. Texas improved to 7-2 with the win and plays host to Arkansas Wednesday.

The Bobcats kept the game close in the first half by shooting 47 percent from the field while forcing 10 Texas turnovers.

The Longhorns got off to an 8-0 start but double-digit advantages were short lived in the first period. The Bobcats were within four late in the period.

Brian Hill's layin, coupled with a three-pointer at the 3:16 mark by Antwoine Blanchard, helped turn a 10-point lead to a 41-37 Longhorn advantage. Texas led 48-41 at the break on Damion James' dunk off an Augustin pass before the buzzer.

"I am really proud of our team, our players effort and the way we approached the game against a very talented and very well-cached team," said Texas State coach Doug Davalos. "I do think our players came out with confidence and had an attack mentality early on."

"I thought they (Texas State) played really hard," said Texas coach Rick Barnes. "They forced turnovers, well they forced some and we turned the ball over ourselves. One thing they did was they never gave up. This was a tough week for both teams with the players having finals and having to prepare for a game. Both teams played hard."

Texas would pull away midway through the second half.

Blanchard's layin with 12:29 cut Texas' lead to under 10 for the last time of the night, 66-58 with 12:29 to play. From there, the Longhorns scored 13 unanswered points sparked by a fastbreak dunk by Connor Atchley. During the run Augustin was 5-for-5 from the free throw line and also scored inside.

Texas State was led by Charles Dotson who scored 14 points, had five rebounds, a career-high matching four steals and four assists. Brandon Bush and Blanchard each finished with 12 points.

Justin Martin added 18 points for the Longhorns while James finished with a 10-point, 10-rebound night.

Par for the Bobcats' season, the game featered 44 turnovers - 25 by Texas State and 19 by Texas. The Longhorns took advantage of 31 Bobcat fouls to shoot 73 percent from the free throw line (35-of-48). Texas State went to the free throw line just 11 times.