Austin, TX – Without standout freshman Mohamed Bamba in the lineup due to concussion suffered in practice, the Texas Longhorns relied on their deep guard rotation and a stellar performance from Dylan Osetkowski to earn a victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats 78-60.
The Longhorns’ defense and pace were able to suffocate the Wildcat offense for much of Tuesday’s game (31.7% from the floor). The Longhorns’ struggle to make open three pointers continued in this game as they shot just 7-of-24 from behind the arc (17-of-57 on the season – 29.8%).
Dylan Osetkowski had another double-double night with 17 points and 14 rebounds (both game highs). With Bamba out, Osetkowski was more aggressive on the offensive end with much of the half-court offense working through him. His confidence is growing with his jumper and he showcased a bevy of post moves that we didn’t see in the Longhorns’ season opener. His energy and leadership on the court were a key factor in the victory.
Andrew Jones had a quality outing recording 16 points and four rebounds on the night. The work he put in during the offseason is showing as he was able to finish through contact on multiple drives to the basket.
Dylan Osetkowski
Fellow back-court starter Matt Coleman had another strong outing for the Longhorns. His quick first step and ability to find open shooters when driving the ball led to multiple quality opportunities for Texas throughout the game. Even though he didn’t fill up the stat sheet (3 points, 3 assists), his growth from game one to game two was noticeable.
The Longhorns came out running in the second half and put the game out of reach for the Wildcats. Solid bench production from both Eric Davis Jr. and Jacob Young were vital in growing and keeping the lead in the second half (11 points each).
Jacoby Armstrong started the Wildcats off on the right foot with solid shooting scoring the team’s first nine points. However, foul trouble kept him from making a bigger impact to the final score as he only saw 16 minutes of court time.
Tanner Leissner showcased why he is the captain for this UNH team with 14 points, two assists and six rebounds. His leadership on the court was evident as he was the Wildcats go to offensive player when they needed a score. Leissner showcased an expanded arsenal of post moves even though his shots weren’t dropping against the bigger frontline of Texas.
Texas (2-0) will host Lipscomb on Saturday (11/18). New Hampshire will travel to Gainesville to take on Florida on Sunday (11/19).
This article was written by Justin Ullestad, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.
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