No. 21 Texas men’s basketball overcame UT-Arlington in a 79-62 win to finish off  non-conference play.

Graduate guard Max Abmas broke into the Top 20 D1 basketball players for career points with 2,785, passing Duke’s JJ Redick (2002-2006) with 2,769 points to his name. Abmas achieved the record early on in the game after two 3-pointers that pushed him into the 20th spot. The leading scorer for Texas finished out the matchup with 18 points. 

The Longhorns started off slow against the Mavericks, not able to hold more than a seven-point lead in the first half and going into the break at 39-32. In the second half, the Longhorns were able to advance their lead with Abmas leading both teams in scoring. Graduate forward guard Kadin Shedrick followed with 17 points and graduate guard Ithiel Horton had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The initial slow start could have been a result of junior guard and one of the Longhorns’ top scorers, Tyrese Hunter, not playing in today’s matchup due to sickness. Horton started in place for Hunter.

Despite the victory, the Mavericks kept up with the Longhorns throughout the entirety of the game. UTA finished shooting 44.4% from the 3-point line in comparison to Texas’ 36% and stayed right behind in field goal shooting with 37.7% to the Longhorns 42.9%.

Mavericks freshman guard Kade Douglas was the main contributor and Texas’ biggest obstacle. Douglas carried the Mavericks with 17 points, shooting 50% all across the board. 

Dylan Disu, after his injury from the end of last season excluded him from most of the non-conference games, finished with nine points, three rebounds, one assist and one block. 

Sophomore guard Chendall Weaver, who transferred from UTA in the offseason, finished his day with  five points, one rebound and one steal.

Texas will begin Big 12 play taking on Texas Tech at home on Jan. 6. at 7:00 p.m.

The Longhorns finish their non-conference schedule at 11–2, with their two losses coming from contests against UConn and Marquette.