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Texas State-San Marcos at Texas

Injured Brown exits early as Longhorns blast Bobcats
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Shot by shot, rebound by rebound, the double-doubles keep coming for Texas senior forward Damion James.

How about a dozen more?

James got his 40th career double-double Saturday with 21 points and 16 rebounds as No. 2 Texas beat Texas State 87-54.

"I think 50 sounds better. Or 60," James said. "It's cool. I just want to win. I promise, that's all I want to do."

Texas (8-0) has won its first eight games by at least 15 points, the first time that's happened.

But Saturday's victory was tempered by another injury to a guard.

Freshman J'Covan Brown, who has started four games and is averaging 12.6 points, had to be helped off the court about six minutes into the second half after a fall near the basket. Trainers wrapped his left ankle and he left the court on crutches a few minutes later.

Coach Rick Barnes said immediately after the game he didn't know the extent of the injury.

Brown had switched his jersey from No. 14 to No. 50 for the rest of the season to honor teammate Varez Ward, who was lost for the season with a thigh injury in pregame warmups last month.

If Brown is forced to miss games, it would be at least a temporary hit to the impressive guard depth Texas enjoyed when the season began.

The Longhorns get to add a new one within a few days. Jai Lucas, a transfer from Florida, will be eligible to play Dec. 19 against North Carolina.

"You don't ever have enough players," Barnes said.

Against Texas State, Texas missed its first three shots before James converted a tough, spinning layup by practically throwing the ball behind his head. It dropped through the rim and James spun around again, this time punching the air with both fists.

That basket woke up the Texas offense and the Longhorns raced to a 20-6 lead. Brown, Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton all made 3-pointers in the run.

Texas held the Bobcats to 8-of-34 shooting in the first half. Dexter Pittman, Texas' 6-foot-10, 290-pound senior center, had two early blocks and the Longhorns held Texas State scoreless for stretches of five minutes and four minutes.

Bradley made another 3-pointer and Hamilton made two straight baskets to put Texas up 35-12. The Longhorns scored 20 points off 13 turnovers in the first half.

J.B. Conley had 10 points to lead Texas State (3-7). Bobcats forward Cameron Johnson, who scored 24 against the Longhorns last season, was held scoreless Saturday.

"I don't know if we were intimidated or what, but I thought we were back on our heels too much," Texas State coach Doug Davalos said. "In Cameron's defense, he's 6-7 and going against Dexter Pittman."

In the second half, a blocked shot by Justin Mason led to an easy pass from Bradley to James for a dunk. Texas State made one of its first nine shots in the half and managed just two points over the first five minutes. Texas quickly built the lead to 57-26.

Brown was hurt on a drive to the left side of the basket and appeared to roll his ankle when he landed. He immediately flopped to the ground and didn't try to get up. When got to the bench, he held both hands over his face while trainers wrapped the ankle.

"I didn't see it. There was traffic in there," James said. "We hope he gets better."

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
 
 
Damion James rips down one of his 16 rebounds as Texas improves to 8-0 on the season. (AP)
Damion James rips down one of his 16 rebounds as Texas improves to 8-0 on the season. (AP)

 
Scoreboard
Texas State-San Marcos (3-7)243054
Texas #2 (8-0) «464187
SWTXST:J.B. Conley 10 Pts
SWTXST:John Rybak 10 Reb
SWTXST:Ryan White 3 Ast
TX:Damion James 21 Pts
TX:Damion James 16 Reb
TX:Jordan Hamilton 4 Ast
 

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PLAYERS OF THE GAME
TexasTexas State-San Marcos
TX
Damion James
SWTXST
John Rybak
PtsRebsAstPtsRebsAst
211629102
Texas State-San Marcos Bobcats
J. Rybak, F323-102-210239
J. Bowman, G273-101-21018
U. Segura, G210-60-04110
T. Bishop, G152-51-30025
C. Johnson, F140-110-05220
J. Conley, G211-57-970310
R. White, G211-41-23323
E. Bidias a Moute, F204-80-05038
D. Hale, G101-10-00113
R. Jackson, G101-31-43143
J. Sloan, F91-13-61035
A. Stewart, FDid Not Play
Totals 17-6416-2839102354
 26.6%57.1% 
Texas Longhorns
A. Bradley, G326-130-012215
D. James, G-F238-105-10162321
J. Mason, G221-30-01212
D. Balbay, G181-30-04242
D. Pittman, C173-43-49029
J. Hamilton, G-F266-161-174114
G. Johnson, F172-20-03024
J. Brown, G161-56-60329
A. Wangmene, F-C132-31-11125
C. Chapman, F-C61-11-21013
S. Williams, G-F60-20-01130
M. Hill, F-C41-21-32003
A. Dick, GDid Not Play
J. Lucas, GDid Not Play
D. Melchionni, GDid Not Play
V. Ward, GDid Not Play
Totals 32-6418-2746172387
 50.0%66.7% 
Southland
EastConf. W-LTot. W-L
Lamar11-523-12
McNeese St.10-617-16
Nwestern St.8-816-16
Nicholls St.6-1010-20
SE Louisiana5-1112-17
C. Arkansas3-138-21
WestConf. W-LTot. W-L
UT-Arlington15-124-9
Stephen F. Austin12-420-12
UT-San Antonio10-618-14
Sam Houston7-913-19
Texas St.5-1113-17
Texas A&M-CC4-126-24

Big 12
TeamConf. W-LTot. W-L
Kansas16-232-7
Missouri14-430-5
Baylor12-630-8
Iowa St.12-623-11
Kansas St.10-822-11
Texas9-920-14
Oklahoma St.7-1115-18
Oklahoma5-1315-16
Texas A&M4-1414-18
Texas Tech1-178-23
 
Other games
Ohio St 66 Final
Butler 74
Kentucky 90 Final
Indiana 73
GTOWN 74 Final
Wash 66
La Salle 65 Final
Kansas 90
McNse St 67 Final
Ole Miss 83
MARQET 63 Final
Wisc 72
Tx A&M 81 Final
N Mexico 84
COPPST 43 Final
W Virg 69
DAVID 91 Final
GONZAG 103
K-State 95 Final
UNLV 80
PRESBY 64 Final
NC 103
Purdue 73 Final
Alabama 65