Texas must find a way to make more shots and improve across the board when it hosts Rider on Tuesday in Austin, Texas.
The Longhorns (3-1) have captured three straight games — all at home against mid-major opponents — after losing to then-No. 6 Duke in its season opener.
Texas’ defense was the key in the most recent victory, a 71-55 decision over Kansas City on Saturday, as the Longhorns held the Roos to 37.5% shooting from the floor and 1-for-13 from beyond the arc.
Dailyn Swain scored 13 points to lead the Longhorns while Matas Vokietaitis added 12. Long Beach State transfer Lassina Traore posted 10 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double with Texas.
The Longhorns, who struggled from the floor (39.7%) and the free-throw line (17 of 28, 60.7%), led by 12 points at halftime and gradually pulled away.
“We’re a much better shooting team than we’ve shown,” Texas coach Sean Miller said, whose side is making 44.4% of its field-goal attempts. “We have a couple guys that have to just kind of get out of their own way and make the next shot. And if we could get better in that area with our lack of turnovers, then I think you’ll see us improve. We did not play well.”
Rider (1-2) heads to Austin on the heels of an 86-54 home win over Division III Eastern University (Pa.) on Saturday. The Broncs lost their first two games, at Virginia and Rutgers, by 34 and 28 points, respectively.
“We are still trying to find one another, trust one another,” Rider coach Kevin Baggett said. “It’s a lot of moving parts.”
Flash Burton scored a game-high 21 points to lead four Broncs in double figures in the latest victory. Zion Cruz added 16, Mohamad Diallo hit for 12 and Caleb Smith tallied 10.
After the Texas game, the Broncs travel south to face No. 2 Houston — yet another contest against a Power 4 program.
“It’s been a little bit tough and sometimes when you play those games, it’s hard to get your team back for a minute until you get guys’ confidence back,” Baggett said. “Those are the things I worry about.”