Texas basketball picked up its first win of the season against a ranked team with a 102-97 victory over No. 23 North Carolina State Wednesday in the fifth-place game at the Maui Invitational in Hawaii.
The win not only gives the Longhorns (6-2) a boost of confidence entering their next game Wednesday against visiting Virginia, but also provides a coveted “Quad One” nonconference win. In March, the NCAA Tournament selection committee places heavy value on Quad One wins when determining its March Madness picks. Such wins are defined by beating a team ranked in the top 30 in NET ratings at home, in the top 50 at a neutral site and top 75 on the road. Beating North Carolina State, which will likely rank in the top 50 when the NCAA releases its first NET ratings next week, will rank as a Quad One win.
Texas guard Jordan Pope recorded a game-high 28 points to pace an explosive offense that shot 55.8% from the floor, 50% from 3-point range and 84.8% from the free throw line. The Longhorns set team season highs in made 3-pointers (16) and made free throws (28). Chendall Weaver tallied 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Dailyn Swain, who earned a spot on the five-person Maui Invitational all-tournament team, posted 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
North Carolina State rallied to take a 71-70 lead with 7 minutes, 51 seconds left in the game, but Texas immediately responded with a 10-0 run over the next two minutes. The Longhorns hit 11 of 12 free throws in the final 1:13 to seal the victory.
After dropping its Maui Invitational opener 87-86 to Arizona State, Texas won two games to finish in fifth place. USC topped Arizona State Wednesday to claim the tournament title.