No. 6 Texas didn’t waste any time putting its stamp on Thursday’s exhibition, rolling past Baylor 85-64 at Moody Center behind a blistering first half and a defense that kept creating extra chances.
The Longhorns were already up seven after the opening quarter, but the game really turned in the second. Texas opened the period with an 11-0 burst, with Isi Etute scoring twice in that stretch, and the Bears never found a way back in. Baylor was limited to 10 points in the quarter and committed five turnovers as Texas pushed the margin to 50-29 by halftime.
Junior guard Zya Vann was the cleanest shooter on the floor and the biggest offensive spark for Texas, finishing with 18 points while going 6-for-6 from three and 6-for-8 overall. She also grabbed three rebounds.
Senior Breya Cunningham and Madison Booker each added 12 points, with Cunningham pulling down four rebounds and Booker collecting three. Sophomore Jayda Clark also finished with 12 points, while freshman Addison Bjorn chipped in 11 points and four steals.
Texas came out sharp from the start. In the first quarter, the Longhorns shot 10-for-15 from the field and got seven points from Clark, while the defense forced seven Baylor turnovers that turned into 11 Texas points.
The shooting stayed hot into the second quarter. At the break, Texas was hitting 75 percent from beyond the arc, and Vann had already gone 5-for-5 from three. Bjorn was everywhere on the defensive end, piling up five steals as part of Texas’ eight in the first half.
Baylor showed more fight in the third quarter and matched Texas a little better, but the Longhorns still controlled the frame and held their lead. Cunningham paced Texas with six points in the quarter, while Booker and Vann each added a pair of steals.
The final period played out with Texas in front the whole way, and the Longhorns closed out the 85-64 win with clear edges in the key hustle categories. Texas finished with a 38-20 advantage in points off turnovers, a 23-15 edge in bench points, and a 14-7 lead in steals.
Next up, Texas opens the season at home against FDU at Moody Center on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on SECN+.
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The event will also include food and beverage offerings for fans 21 and older, adding another layer to what is already shaping up as a full-day experience around the football game. Athletics director Chris Del Conte pointed to the festivities as part of the broader gameday package, and for Texas supporters, it is another chance to make a night game feel like more than just what happens between the lines. [Read more 🡒]
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Tickets are only showing up on resale platforms, but the market for this one has been relatively friendly, with listings generally starting under $100. For a Texas home game with the stadium already spoken for, that makes this Halloween matchup look more accessible than plenty of other dates involving either the Longhorns or the Bulldogs, even if the final price will depend on where buyers are willing to shop. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Injury Report Leaves One Huge Question For The Playoff Push
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There is some good news mixed in, with running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Cam Coleman both listed as probable after working back from injuries. The biggest lingering question, though, centers on star pass rusher Colin Simmons, who has been upgraded to questionable status because of an ankle injury, leaving Texas to wait and see whether one of its most important defensive playmakers will be available when it needs him most. [Read more 🡒]