That’s two straight conference wins for the Texas Basketball team thanks to a big game from No. 2 — Matt Coleman III.
Coleman led the Longhorns 17 points to with four rebounds and three assists while Dylan Osetkowski added 14 points and seven rebounds in the 61-54 win over visiting West Virginia (8-6, 0-2).
“(We’re) starting off conference the right way,” Osetkowski said.
Elijah Mitrou-Long continued his steady play with 10 points and Jaxson Hayes had a game-high four blocks.
Hayes last night 👉6 points, 4 blocks, 3 rebounds 😱@hayes_jaxson pic.twitter.com/Tk7F965qc5
— Texas Basketball (@TexasMBB) January 6, 2019
It’s the fourth time in six games that Mitrou-Long notched double-digit points. Depth has been crucial for the Longhorns this season and especially in the past two games, even as head coach Shaka Smart tightens the rotation, as different players are stepping up at different times and the load isn’t all on one guy.
Mitrou-Long last night 👉10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal 🔥@E_LongLife pic.twitter.com/7SJUJxvZda
— Texas Basketball (@TexasMBB) January 6, 2019
The victory marks the first time Texas (10-4, 2-0) has stared Big 12 Conference play 2-0 since the 2010-11 season. The ‘Horns had a 32-26 lead at halftime and got all the way up to 49-41 before the Mountaineers engineered a run to make it a one-point game late in the second half.
Defense carried the day for Texas, which has usually wound up on the wrong side of low-scoring games. West Virginia only shot 40 percent in the game while the Longhorns were at 50 percent — a great mark for Texas as it is now 4-0 when hitting on at least half their field goals in a game.
Texas was without forward Jericho Sims in the win as he sustained an injury in practice on Friday.
Now the ‘Horns travel to play Oklahoma State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Stillwater, Okla.