Jan. 9, 2005
Box Score | Quotes | Notes
By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Daniel Gibson scored 18 points and No. 15 Texas used a sharp performance from 3-point range to open Big 12 play with a 79-60 victory over Baylor on Sunday.
Texas hit 11 3-pointers - Gibson and Kenton Paulino combined for nine - and LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Longhorns (12-2).
Tim Bush scored 20 points to lead Baylor (7-4, 0-1).
Texas is 14-0 against Baylor under coach Rick Barnes and has won the last four in the series by at least 18 points.
Baylor is still rebuilding from the NCAA violations and player transfers left by former coach Dave Bliss. The Bears have just six scholarship players.
While Texas could have been expected to use its deeper bench to wear down the Bears, the Longhorns were also playing shorthanded and the Bears managed to keep it close until midway through the second half.
Texas senior reserve forward Jason Klotz, who averages 11.3 points, served a one-game suspension for throwing a punch in last week's game against Memphis, and guard Sydmill Harris missed his third straight game with a groin injury.
While Texas shot 52 percent and hit eight 3-pointers in building a 45-37 halftime lead, Baylor did everything it could to keep up, hitting four 3-pointers. Bush, a transfer from LSU, had 12 points, including Baylor's last seven of the half.
Texas' perimeter shooting over Baylor's zone defense cooled off early in the second half, but the Longhorns started getting more points inside and in transition.
Klotz's absence opened up more playing time for Aldridge, a freshman who got his first double-double. He had five straight points when he converted a three-point play on a dunk after a steal and followed it with a layup that opened a 63-49 lead with 11:35 to play.
Texas committed 10 of its 18 turnovers in the second half and Baylor cut the lead back to nine before Paulino found his 3-point range again. Paulino hit consecutive 3-pointers to put Texas up 73-58 and finished with 17 points.
