NEW YORK – The NIT final. Texas vs. Lipscomb. Interesting matchup of Power 5 and mid-major. Added sidebar on how this Lipscomb team is genuinely having fun and soaking up the Madison Square Garden and New York experience.
First half: Texas’ shot selection (a number of three-point attempts) not too good to start. On defense, freshman Courtney Ramey has the assignment of defending Lipscomb’s Garrison Matthews. Ramey is not getting weak side help on defense. It’s all straight man to man, playing Matthews very tight. Score is Lipscomb 2-0 (no typo) after four minutes.
Rob Marberry of Lipscomb is the Bisons’ primary option early on. The 6’7” senior has good footwork and a soft touch. Texas finds the range and with just under 13 minutes left, owns a 10-6 advantage.
Under twelve timeout it is 10-10. All five Lipscomb field goals in the paint. Matthews is 0-2 and definitely not forcing the issue. Nice ball movement on the perimeter by Shaka Smart’s Longhorns. Very often they are content to shoot the three.
Matthews gets his first points from the line with just under ten to play. Good sign for the Bison as they are right there even with Matthews relatively quiet.
Jase Febres of Texas scores on a nice slashing move to the basket. The Longhorns need more of those type plays as opposed to constantly settling for an attempted three. Under eight timeout it is 20-17 Lipscomb.
Texas looking to run on opportunity. Kerwin Roach II is getting in the lane in the Texas half court offense, a good sign for Smart and Co. Matthews hoists an air ball from three. Texas grabs the rebound, gets in transition and converts – 29-22 Longhorns with four and a half to go in the half. Momentum definitely in Texas’ favor.
Texas’ 6’9” Dylan Osetkowski knocked down a few treys this half. The senior forward better served the cause closer to the basket by hitting the boards. I just get done writing this and Osetkowski buries another three.
On the other end Matthews uses his arm to gain space against an opponent. Offensive foul and Lipscomb’s senior stalwart is frustrated. Two Bison field goals the last eight minutes of the half.
Score: Texas 41 Lipscomb 27
Second half: Texas struggles offensively out of the gate. A 7-0 Lipscomb run cuts the deficit in half. Timeout Texas. After going about five minutes without a point, Texas got on track. They are in more of an attack the basket mode, especially in transition. They still haven’t abandoned the three-pointer, however.
Matthews is struggling. Without a field goal as we near midway through the final half, the Lipscomb senior is now starting to rush his shots. Texas defense deserves the credit for Matthews’ tough outing.
Enjoying the moment, Roach II takes a three-pointer by the press table. A Texas fan hollers “that’s in” Nothing but net, Roach II turns and smiles saying “you got it.”
Ten to go. Matthews still is without a field goal, but he is getting to the line. Texas’ ten-point lead feels like twenty at this juncture. At the 8:18 mark Matthews hits his first field goal, a deep three. Febres answers with a three of his own at the other end. Lead is 13 at the eight minute media timeout. Does Lipscomb have a run left in them?
Interestingly, for all his struggles Matthews has 15 points with six to go. Teammate Marberry leads with 17. Lack of consistent complimentary scoring has doomed Casey Alexander’s group.
Texas knocks down a few threes then looks inside to Osetkowski. Longhorns have broken down the Lipscomb defense. Much like the TCU game, Smart is using more time each possession as time melts away and he possesses a double-digit lead.
Under four to play. Texas leads by twenty. Longhorns have buried eight threes this half. Attacking the basket early eventually opened up the perimeter as a number of these looks from three are wide open. Clock is about to strike midnight for Lipscomb.
Matthews exits with 1:44 and Texas ahead by 17. Teams are going to their bench. This one is settled.
Texas 81 Lipscomb 66
Leading scorers: Osetkowski (Texas) with 19, Marberry (Lipscomb) with 17.
Texas had four in double figures. The only other double-digit point producer for Lipscomb was Matthews (2 of 10 from the floor) with 15.
Lipscomb shot 39 percent from the floor, Texas checked in at 44 percent. Big difference was the Longhorns preventing a run by Lipscomb by going 8 of 20 (40 percent) from beyond the arc in that second half.
And, of course, that defense on Matthews.
