Carr, Tough Defense Lead No. 6 Texas Past Oklahoma St. 56-46

No. 6 Texas took a key step towards shifting previous the Chris Beard period on Saturday.

Beard, who faces a felony home household violence cost stemming from a Dec. 12 incident involving his fiancée, was fired Thursday. Texas mentioned in a letter to his legal professional that Beard was “unfit” for the place.

With interim coach Rodney Terry on the helm, the Longhorns centered on basketball. Marcus Carr scored 12 factors in Texas’ 56-46 win over Oklahoma State, and Texas (13-2, 2-1 Large 12) improved to 6-1 below Terry.

“I’m happy with our guys,” Terry mentioned. “And I mentioned to them the opposite day, most likely greater than any crew within the nation, this group has actually caught collectively and persevered by means of some adversity and a few challenges. … They’ve actually centered on what they will management and I believe simply sort of locked in and loved taking part in with one another and being round one another each day.”

Texas bounced again from Tuesday’s 116-103 loss to Kansas State, regardless of capturing simply 31.5% from the sector towards Oklahoma State. The Longhorns held the Cowboys to 30.4% capturing.

“We mentioned that we wanted to have a gritty crew at the moment,” Terry mentioned. “You understand, the crew that was going to come back in and play their hardest at the moment and actually attempt to max out defensively was going to have an opportunity to win this sport at the moment.”

Kalib Boone had 16 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks for Oklahoma State (9-6, 1-2), which narrowly misplaced to now-No. 3 Kansas on Dec. 31 and had a strong win over West Virginia earlier than Saturday’s loss.

Oklahoma State’s Moussa Cisse, the 7-foot-1 ahead who leads the Large 12 with 9.9 rebounds and a pair of.7 blocks per sport, missed the sport with an ankle harm.

“We missed him all through the general sport, each offense and protection,” guard John-Michael Wright mentioned. “He’s an enormous presence.”

Texas led 32-24 at halftime regardless of capturing 32.1% earlier than the break. Eight Longhorns scored within the first half, however none posted greater than 5 factors. Texas held Oklahoma State to 33.3% capturing and outscored the Cowboys 12-7 from the free-throw line within the first 20 minutes.

An alley-oop dunk by Boone reduce Texas’ result in 43-41, and Caleb Asberry adopted with a 3-pointer that lastly gave the Cowboys a 44-43 lead with 8:20 remaining.

Oklahoma State didn’t make one other subject purpose. A 3-pojnter by Texas’ Brock Cunningham with about two minutes remaining put the Longhorns up 53-46, the spotlight of their 12-1 run over the ultimate six minutes to finish the sport.

BIG PICTURE

Texas: It was defensive effort for the Longhorns coming off a sport through which they gave up probably the most factors they’d ever allowed in a Large 12 sport.

“We received this sport on Thursday, not at the moment on Saturday,” Terry mentioned. “We received it again in Austin. You understand, we got here off a troublesome loss at dwelling and we didn’t play superb protection in that ballgame and sort of received away from our id.”

Oklahoma State: Even with out one among their prime gamers, the Cowboys hung powerful towards a top-10 crew that had been averaging 84.1 factors per sport.

BLOCK PARTY

Even with out Cisse, Oklahoma State blocked 12 pictures. Boone’s six swats matched a profession excessive and ahead Tyreek Smith matched his profession greatest with three.

UP NEXT

Texas: Hosts TCU on Wednesday.

Oklahoma State: Visits Kansas State on Tuesday.