Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Max Abmas posted a season-high 26 points to lead Texas to a 77-58 win against Texas State on Thursday evening in Moody Center. Graduate forward Kadin Shedrick and sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell both recorded double-doubles for the Longhorns in the win.
Abmas converted a season-high 9-of-18 field goals, including a season-best 5-of-12 from three-point range, and 3-of-3 free throws while adding a season-high six assists against just one turnover in 38 minutes. Mitchell posted 11 points (5-9 FG), 11 rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots in a career-best 38 minutes, and Shedrick added 11 points (3-6 FG, 5-6 FT), a season-high 11 boards (four offensive) and three blocked shots in a season-best 33 minutes. Graduate guard Ithiel Horton tallied 12 points in 16 minutes, and junior guard Tyrese Hunter registered 11 points and five assists in 32 minutes.
Texas jumped out to a 9-2 advantage following a Mitchell layup at the 15:49 mark. Texas State closed the gap to 9-4 after a Brandon Love layup with 15:31 remaining, before the Longhorns responded with a 16-0 run over the next 3:30 to build a 25-4 cushion following a Mitchell three-point play at the 12:01 mark.
The Bobcats immediately answered with a 14-0 spurt over the next five-and-a-half minutes to trim the margin to 25-18 after a pair of Love free throws with 6:42 left. Texas State got as close as six points (30-24) following a Dylan Dawson three-pointer at the 2:19 mark, before Texas closed the half on a 6-2 run to take a 36-26 advantage into the break.
The Bobcats began the second half with a 16-2 run in the opening 4:04 to grab a 42-38 cushion after a Love jumper with 15:56 remaining. Texas State took a 50-49 lead following a Dawson jumper at the 10:45 mark, before the Longhorns answered with a 13-0 run over the next two-and-a-half minutes to build a 62-50 advantage after an Abmas three-pointer with 8:18 left. The margin did not dip into single digits for the remainder of the contest, and Texas held the Bobcats scoreless over the final 4:00 of the game.
Texas returns to the court when it travels to face Marquette (6-1) as part of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.