No. 19 Texas took care of business at home on Wednesday night, leading Rice from start to finish to improve its record to 3-0. Rice hung around in the first half, trailing by nine at halftime, but a hot second half helped the Longhorns pull away.

Here are some takeaways from the win:

The threes keep on falling

For the third straight game, the Longhorns have ridden their shooting from deep to victory. Texas canned ten 3-pointers on the night and brought its season average from downtown to a hair below 46%.

Junior guard Tyrese Hunter paced Texas’ effort from distance on the night, knocking down three of his five attempts. Graduate guard Max Abmas added three 3-pointers of his own in a 13-point outing.

“It’s a recipe that we toyed with a little bit in the Big 12 tournament,” graduate forward Brock Cunningham said. “Putting four shooters out there played a part in Dylan Disu’s success last year. But it makes it really hard on the defense because you have to respect everyone in the one-on-one game in the post-ups, and we’ve got some of the best posts in the country.”

Twenty-two of the Longhorns’ 48 field goal attempts came from range, and while Disu continues to miss time, Texas’ offense should continue to flow from outside the arc.

Brock Cunningham is the straw that stirs the drink

It was a trademark night for the Austin native, who did all the little things for Texas in the win. The graduate student filled up the box score, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and adding six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks in an all-around effort.

“(The Longhorns) have Brock who I think is probably one of the most underrated guys in college basketball,“ Rice head coach Scott Pera said. “I just think very highly of him as a player, and as a coach, you really appreciate a guy like that … He does damage on the glass, he gets his hands on things, he’s a good defender, he’s smart, he takes good shots, he makes open shots. (Dillon Mitchell and Cunningham) caused a lot of problems.”

In his fifth year at Texas, the forward brings a level of experience and composure that has played a pivotal role in helping the team to gel.

Kadin Shedrick adds a new dimension

For the first time this season, Virginia graduate transfer Kadin Shedrick entered the starting lineup, and he proved why he was so coveted in the transfer portal in the win.

The center was active defensively all game for the Longhorns, his length consistently affecting Rice’s shots in the paint. Additionally, he looked agile guarding on the perimeter, moving his feet well in space, and he flashed his game from beyond the arc, sinking a corner 3-pointer.

“I’m still working to kind of feel the game out and try and slow down mentally, but it’s getting better,” Shedrick said. “I’m trying to get used to the pace of play, and it’s a lot of fun. But I’m gonna keep working to get there.”

Shedrick had his hands full with Rice forward Max Fiedler, and on a few possessions, the 230-pounder got the best of him when the two were bruising down low. However, just three games back from his shoulder injury, it was an encouraging showing for a player who figures to be a fixture in the starting lineup going forward.

Point Hunter

Ahead of the season, it was unclear whether Max Abmas or Tyrese Hunter would operate as Texas’ de facto point guard. While the backcourt continues ball-handling duties, Hunter looks to be making a leap as a facilitator and has looked very comfortable in command of the offense.

Through three games, the guard is averaging 18 points and five assists per game. Most notably, he’s shooting over 46% from beyond the arc, bolstered by his 3-5 night from range in the win.

Hunter led the team in minutes with 35 and in addition to his shooting from range, flashed his handle and speed getting to the rim. As Hunter and Abmas build chemistry, their threats as shooters combined with graduate transfer Ithiel Horton’s sharpshooting will keep opponents honest guarding out on the perimeter.

Sitting at 3-0, Texas will travel to New York City for the Saatva Empire Classic, where it will take on Louisville at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.