The No. 7 Texas Longhorns fell just short of reaching the 100-point plateau for the second time in two games to open the 2026-27 season, but it was only because head coach Sean Miller was able to empty his bench with plenty of time to spare in Thursday’s 98-50 victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Seven players reached double figures for the Longhorns, led by a game-high 16 points for junior center Matas Vokietaitis, who went 6-of-8 shooting with seven rebounds in 20 minutes. Sophomore guard
Isaiah Johnson was similarly efficient shooting, hitting two three and making all five of his free throws, but also committed a team-high three turnovers. Freshman guard Joe Sterling and freshman forward Marcus Spears Jr. each added 13 points as Sterling canned three triples and Spears went 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 shooting at the line.
The offensive performance for the Longhorns was extraordinarily efficient against the overmatched Bulldogs — Texas shot 60.7 percent from the field and made 24 free throws, scoring 54 points in the paint, 31 points off 23 turnovers, and 28 points in transition.
The Horns also operated with strong ball security, turning it over just 10 times despite the three giveaways by Johnson in leading by as many as 53 points.
Gardner-Webb found success early offensively, starting 3-of-4 shooting, but the Texas defense responded by forcing six straight misses, all jump shots, and took a 12-6 lead into the first media timeout by attacking the rim — four of the first five made baskets for the Longhorns were dunks, including a soaring slam by junior wing Elyjah Freeman on a cut good from the corner assisted by freshman guard Austin Goosby.
A 12-0 run spanning the game’s initial media break saw the Longhorns establish a 19-6 lead with the help of threes by Goosby and Johnson, ultimately the only baskets made outside the paint by Texas over the first 12 minutes.
Over that stretch, junior forward David Punch led the way with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, adding two assists and a block.
Spears provided efficient play early, too, making three layups and dishing out an assist, although he did get beat on a cut to the basket that led to a shooting foul.
Freeman delivered the largest early lead of the game, 33-18, coming up with a steal and sending home a windmill dunk.
Another good transition opportunity on a steal by Spears went wanting when Vokietaitis missed a dunk and then committed a foul at the rim on the other end when Spears left his feet on a shot fake. Vokietaitis bounced back with a dunk assisted by Goosby.
An effective inbounds play produced a sidestep three by Sterling to extend the lead to 21 points at the under-four timeout. Sterling followed up his triple with active hands defensively, nearly coming up with a steal to send the game into the media break.
The surge by Texas reached 21-0 with a combination of finishes around the rim, free throws, and three-pointers.
Late in the half, the Longhorns even threw out a 1-3-1 zone before Johnson drew a shooting foul beyond the arc to extend the run and take a 54-20 lead into halftime after holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs to 1-of-13 shooting from three while hitting at 61.3 percent themselves in addition to making 12 free throws.
Vokietaitis scored the first five points of the second half before Gardner-Webb started getting to the free-throw line. A subsequent 5-0 surge by Texas sent the game into the under-16 timeout with the margin up to 42 points.
The Horns continued to execute offense the way analytics appreciate, mostly getting to the rim for easy finishes and adding a Sterling three to extend the lead to over 50 points.
Into extended garbage time, Texas was able to empty the bench over the final few minutes, highlighted by two dunks by freshman forward Coleman Elkins.
Miller’s team hosts Grambling State on Monday at the Moody Center. Tip is at 6 p.m. Central on SEC Network.
