Loaded Longhorns Find Yet Another Way to Win

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns have all but distanced themselves from any talk of statement games in December while pulling off impressive wins against Top 10 opponents North Carolina and Michigan State.

But make no mistake they've sent a message all the same: Pick a style, any style and not only will the second-ranked Longhorns play it but they will beat you out.

Texas ran with the Tar Heels on Saturday and ran them off the floor. Tuesday night, facing a physical Michigan State squad, the Longhorns showed they can throw elbows with the best of them, fighting though the most violent of ball screens and drives in traffic to rally past the ninth-ranked Spartans 78-68 and improve to 11-0.

"We didn't want this to be a physical game, we wanted to get up and down. But we have physical players out there, too," said Texas senior forward Damion James, whose busted lip was testament to the tough play both teams engaged in for 40 minutes. "I think that is what makes us so good. We can play any kind of style. We can run and gun, we can grind it out.

"It was a grind out game. We didn't score 90 points, but it was a great team win."

A big win it was as the Longhorns again received production from some unusual places to pull out their most difficult win this season. First it was freshmen Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton hitting some clutch shots early in the second quarter to complete a rally.

Then there was point guard Dogus Balbay playing lights out defense on MSU guard Kalin Lucas and even converting a couple big baskets. But the most unusual of places came from reserve forward Gary Johnson, who saw extended minutes with center Dexter Pittman saddled with foul trouble.

When necessary, Johnson provided the muscle inside the Longhorns normally count on from Pittman. But Johnson's athleticism gives him the added dimension of being able to extend on defense. That was never more obvious than late in the game when Johnson made back-to-back midcourt steals from Korie Lucious that turned into break away dunks for an 11-point lead to put the exclamation point on a hard-earned win.

James, of course, led the way for the Longhorns with 23 points and 13 rebounds for his fifth double-double this season. But Johnson's seven points, three steals and two rebounds in 19 minutes were every bit as critical.

His presence alone allowed the Longhorns to be faster on both ends of the floor to completely stifle the Spartans.

"What Gary did really blew the game open," said James, who became the school's all-time leading rebounder. "Those two plays at the middle of the court were unbelievable. Coach had called us to blitz the ball screen with the small lineup. We were able to do that and what Gary did was great. It blew the game wide open."

James would get no argument from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

"Johnson, I thought was a difference maker," said Izzo, whose team dropped to 9-3 on the season. "He turned it up and really jumped out on some of those dribble-handoffs. He's just so athletic and just so aggressive. His game was a lot better than his stats reflect. He had a very good 20 minutes against us, especially defensively."

Johnson was somewhat nonchalant about his most impressive game so far of the season.

"I just had an opportunity tonight," said Johnson, who matched his career-high in steals. "I was able to show people I'm not just a defensive player."

Versatility and depth seems to be the name of the game for these Longhorns, who have now won all 11 of their games by double-digits. Just like most games this season, James set the pace with his ability to score at will while also playing strong around the glass.

But Texas coach also received production in spots from point guard Jai Lucas, guard J'Covan Brown, Hamilton and Johnson at both ends of the floor off the bench. With the exception of Lucas, they all played a part in helping limit Michigan State to just 39 percent shooting from the field in the pivotal second half.

During the final five minutes of the game, the Spartans managed just one field goal on a Kalin Lucas drive as Texas' confidence on defense became even more profound.

"It was almost like they turned it two notches and we ... They responded and we didn't," Izzo said. "That part for me was the most disappointing.

"I think they deserve a lot of credit for when they turned it up."

Still there were flaws. They Longhorns, especially their talented freshmen, jacked up too many ill-advised shots and even fundamentals like going after the rebound after boxing out escaped a veteran like Johnson.

But Texas heads into its holiday breaking with the feeling that it's on track but that there is still a great deal of room to improve before heading into the Big 12 season.

"I told them that if this is as good as we're going to be, then we're in trouble," Barnes said. "The great thing about this is that we really have a lot of room to grown.

"I think tonight was a great experience for the freshmen because they got screened harder than they've ever been screened and they played against a group of guys who cut harder than we ever had and they understand how this game is going to be played. The great thing is that those younger guys will continue to improve the way they have to."