Abmas’ 32 points not enough for Texas to overcome foul, turnover issues in 76-73 loss to WVU
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Max Abmas poured in 32 points for No. 25 Texas, but the Longhorns couldn’t get past West Virginia on the road in a 76-73 loss Saturday at WVU Coliseum.
Four Mountaineers scored in double figures and their bench outscored the Longhorns’ reserves 25-9. Texas was whistled for 28 fouls, sending the Mountaineers to the line 41 times. While West Virginia didn’t shoot a good percentage from the stripe, it was the volume that hurt Texas. The Mountaineers made 27 foul shots to the Longhorns’ 16, and West Virginia was called for 15 fouls the entire game.
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Abmas shot 7 for 13 from 3-point range and 9 of 17 overall, but after Dylan Disu’s 18 points, no other Longhorn scored more than eight. Texas turned the ball over 22 times and the lead changed 13 times in the game.
Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry said his team, “didn’t value taking care of the ball early in the game.”
West Virginia forward Ofri Naveh (9) is defended by Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia guard Kobe Johnson (2) is defended by Texas guard Ithiel Horton (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia forward Patrick Suemnick (24) dunks against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) is defended by West Virginia forward Quinn Slazinski (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) is defended by West Virginia forward Akok Akok (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas guard Ithiel Horton (9) shoots while defended by West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia players react from the bench during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas guard Chendall Weaver (2) is defended by West Virginia guard Noah Farrakhan (1) and forward Ofri Naveh (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas coach Rodney Terry reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas guard Max Abmas (3) shoots while defended by West Virginia forward Quinn Slazinski, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas guard Chendall Weaver (2) is defended by West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia guard Kobe Johnson (2) is defended by Texas guard Max Abmas, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa (3) is defended by Texas guard Chendall Weaver (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia forward Patrick Suemnick (24) is defended by Texas forward Brock Cunningham (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas guard Max Abmas (3) is defended by West Virginia guard Noah Farrakhan (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia forward Quinn Slazinski (11) is defended by Texas guard Max Abmas (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia guard RaeQuan Battle (21) is defended by Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia forward Quinn Slazinski (11) is defended by Texas forwards Ze’Rik Onyema (21) and Dillon Mitchell (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia guard RaeQuan Battle (21) is defended by Texas guard Max Abmas (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia forward Quinn Slazinski (11) shoots against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas guard Max Abmas (3) is defended by West Virginia guard Noah Farrakhan (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia guard RaeQuan Battle (21) shoots against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) West Virginia coach Josh Eilert reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten) Texas players react from the bench during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)
“They (West Virginia) guarded hard tonight, there’s no doubt about that, but they aren’t a team that turns you over,” Terry said. “I’m not going to take anything away from them in that sense, but we’ve got to do a better job ourselves taking care of the ball and getting shots on our terms.”
Disu fouled out with 2:16 left in the game with West Virginia up 63-59 before the foul shots, and not having that scoring option late certainly handcuffed the Longhorns down the stretch.
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“It always hurts when you don’t have a starter on the floor in meaningful minutes,” Terry said. “We had a couple of possessions that could have gone either way, and you play it all the way to end in terms of trying to make things happen.”
Pat Suemnick led the way for the Mountaineers with 16 points on 5 of 7 from the floor and 6 of 12 from the foul line. RaeQuan Battle and Kerr Kriisa each scored 14 points while Quinn Slazinski chipped in 13 off the bench.
Texas (12-4, 1-2 Big 12) hosts Central Florida at 7 p.m. Wednesday in conference play. West Virginia (6-10, 1-2) travels to Norman to take on Oklahoma on Wednesday.
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