Pope leads men’s basketball past New Orleans, 98-62

On By Littum

AUSTIN, Texas — Junior guard Jordan Pope set an individual Moody Center record for single-game scoring with a career-high 42 points to pace Texas (10-2) to a 98-62 victory over New Orleans (2-8) on Thursday night. The 42 points marked a tie for the seventh most in a single game in UT program history and the fourth most in a home game in school history.

Pope converted 15-of-21 field goals, including 8-of-12 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 free throws in 33 minutes of action. He set career highs in both field goals made and 3-pointers made, and his eight 3-pointers were two shy of the UT single-game record. His six second-half 3-pointers tied for the second-most in a single half in UT program history.

Senior Arthur Kaluma recorded his third double-double of the season with 15 points (5-9 FG, 2-2 threes, 3-3 FT) and 10 rebounds with three assists and two blocks in 28 minutes. Junior Chendall Weaver posted 12 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 threes, 3-3 FT), five boards and two assists in 26 minutes.

The Longhorns converted 54.8 percent (34-62) from the floor, including a 52.0 percent mark (13-25) from three-point range, on the night. In the second half, Texas shot 60 percent (18-30) from the floor, including a 60 percent mark (9-15) from the three-point line. UT posted 15 assists while committing a season-low six turnovers in the win.

The Longhorns took control from the opening tip, building a 16-0 advantage while holding New Orleans scoreless for the first 7:38 of the contest. UNO finally got on the board at 12:22 on a JR Jacobs jumper. Beginning with that basket, New Orleans used a 12-2 spurt over the next four minutes to trim the margin to 18-12 after a Dae Dae Hunter three-pointer at the 8:30 mark.

A pair of James White free throws cut the deficit to 21-15 with 6:35 left before Texas responded with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to build a 33-15 cushion after a Pope three-pointer at the 3. :28 marks. The Longhorns extended their advantage to as much as 22 points (40-18) after another Pope three-pointer with 1:51 remaining, but the Privateers closed the half on a 10-4 spurt to pull within 44-28 at halftime.

New Orleans trimmed the margin to 48-38 after an MJ Thomas layup at 17:16. A White free throw cut the deficit to 60-47 with 11:51 left before Texas went on a 34-3 run over the next eight minutes to build a 94-50 cushion after a Kadin Shedrick dunk at the 3:01 mark. Pope scored 27 of his 42 points in the second half while converting 9-of-12 field goals, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-3 free throws.

Texas will take a 10-day break during the holidays before returning to action against Northwestern State on Sunday, December 29. Tips are scheduled for 11 a.m. Central in the Moody Center, and the contest will be streamed nationally by SEC Network+.

Texas Basketball Postgame Notes

Texas 98, New Orleans 62

19 December 2024

Moody Center (Austin, Texas)

Spectators: 10,565

Team notes

  • Texas improved to 7-1 in home games this season and 37-6 all-time in games played at the Moody Center.

  • UT led from start to finish for the third straight game and sixth time in the first 12 contests this season.

  • Texas has scored at least 89 points in seven of its first eight home games this year.

  • The Longhorns converted 54.8 percent (34-62) from the floor, including a 52.0 percent mark (13-25) from three-point range, on the night.

  • This was the seventh time in the first 12 games that Texas has shot at least 50 percent from the floor and the third time this season that the Longhorns have converted at least 50 percent from three-point range.

  • UT posted 15 assists while committing a season-low six turnovers and registering a plus-9 rebound margin (45-36).

  • The Longhorns recorded a season-high nine blocked shots during the win.

  • Texas jumped out to a 16-0 lead and didn’t allow UNO to score a point until a jumper at the 12:22 mark.

  • UT shot 60.0 percent (18-30) from the floor, including a 60.0 percent mark (9-15) from three-point range, in the second half while posting a 54-34 scoring margin in the final 20 minutes.

  • The Longhorns converted 50 percent (16-32) from the floor and 80 percent (8-10) from the free-throw line and held the Privateers to 28.1 percent (9-32) in the first 20 minutes while building a 44. -28 pillow breaks.

Nic Cody

  • Set career high in rebounds (3)

Tre Johnson

Arthur Kaluma

  • Posted a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) for the third time this year (12 games) and 11th time in his career (113 games)

  • Reached double figures in scoring for the 11th time this season and 79th time in his career

  • Reached double figures in rebounds for the fourth time this year and 13th time in his career

  • Recorded a team-high plus-minus total of plus-47 in 28 minutes

Jason Kent

  • Did not play (right wrist)

Julian Larry

  • Posted a game-high six assists against just one turnover in 24 minutes

Jordan Pope

  • Set career highs in points (42), field goals made (15-21) and three-point field goals made (8-12), while also converting 4-of-5 free throws in 33 minutes

  • Set individual record for most points in Moody Center history (Previous: 41 by Marcus Carr of Texas vs. Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 27, 2022

  • The 42 points are even for seventh most by a Texas player in program history and the most since Reggie Freeman had 43 in a home win against Fresno State on Dec. 14, 1996

  • The 42 points are fourth most in a home game by a Texas player in program history

  • His eight 3-pointers were two shy of the UT program record (10, shared by Marcus Carr and Al Coleman)

  • Went 6-of-8 from three-point range in the second half, and his six 3-pointers made are tied for second-most in a half in program history (since 1986-87)

  • Topped 40 points for the first time this year (12 games) and in his career (76 games)

  • Reached the 30-point mark for the first time this season and third time in his career

  • Topped the 20-point mark for the first time this year and 14th time in his career

  • Reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time this season and 60th of his career

Kadin Shedrick

  • Posted three blocked shots in 24 minutes

  • Recorded multiple blocks in nine of his first 12 games this year

Chendall Weaver

  • Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the fourth time this season (12 games) and 28th time in his career (78 games)