AUSTIN, Texas — Texas led wire to wire in Saturday’s highly anticipated preseason exhibition against 10th-ranked Arkansas at Moody Center.
The No. 12 Longhorns, spearheaded by 19 points from Arterio Morris, controlled the game in the first half then pulled away after halftime in their 90-60 victory over the Razorbacks. Arkansas never led in the loss.
Until the final minute of the first half, the Longhorns’ largest advantage had been seven points. But a 7-0 run capped by a left-wing three-pointer from Texas guard Tyrese Hunter helped balloon the lead to 40-30 at halftime. The Longhorns hit 5 of 9 three-point looks prior to the break.
Things then got much worse for the Razorbacks as they opened the second half 2 of 12 from the floor. Meanwhile, Texas knocked down 10 of its first 12 second-half looks.
Following a layup by Arkansas freshman guard Nick Smith with 16:03 remaining, the Longhorns reeled off 20 consecutive points to extend their lead to 69-35. Texas made 3 three-pointers during that stretch, including one to make it a 30-point game moments after the Razorbacks’ Trevon Brazile was helped to the locker room.
Against Texas’ length and pressure, Arkansas struggled mightily with turnovers and on the defensive backboard. The Razorbacks committed 23 turnovers, including 12 in the first half, and the Longhorns turned the miscues into 26 points.
Texas also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Six of the Longhorns’ first nine rebounds came off their own misses.
For the Razorbacks, freshman wing Jordan Walsh led with 14 points, including 12 in the second half, on 6 of 8 from the floor. Smith finished with 12 points on 5 of 8 from the floor in 28 minutes.
Smith accounted for Arkansas’ lone three-point make until the 6:03 mark of the second half. Smith and Walsh made three of the Razorbacks’ four shots from beyond the arc.
Transfer forward Makhi Mitchell added 8 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench, and freshman guard Joseph Pinion had 7 points on 2-of-5 shooting.
Texas placed five players in double figures. Timmy Allen, an All-Big 12 performer a season ago, added 12 points and 4 assists, and Jabari Rice, a transfer from New Mexico State, had 11 points.
The Longhorns made 10 of 16 three-point attempts.
The Razorbacks are scheduled to open the regular season Monday, Nov. 7 against North Dakota State at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network-Plus.