The Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team defeated the Chicago State Cougars 109–59 in its season opener on Monday night.
Matas Vokietaitis scored 22 points on 9-for-9 field goal shooting and collected six rebounds. Point guard Isaiah Johnson added 18 points. Freshman Joe Sterling scored 14 points and made four of Texas’ 13 three-pointers.
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Six-foot-9 freshman Marcus Spears Jr. finished with 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks. ESPN ranked Spears No. 4 among national recruits after he reclassified from the 2027 high school class to enroll at age 17 this season.
Freshman guards Austin Goosby and Bo Ogden each made their first career shots — both three-pointers. Goosby recorded seven rebounds and eight assists. Sterling opened his collegiate career with a jump shot before hitting two three-pointers.
Texas shot 62.5% from the field and made 13 of 26 three-point attempts. Chicago State’s Will Lovings-Watts scored 13 points and Mike Price added 12.
Texas reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 last season in Sean Miller’s first year as head coach. The Longhorns finished 10th in the Southeastern Conference and began this season with 11 new players. Guard Mikey Lewis — who averaged 14 points per game at Saint Mary’s last season — is recovering from foot surgery performed in early October. Miller expects him to return in mid-to-late December.
Texas hosts Gardner-Webb on Thursday night. Chicago State visits Incarnate Word the same day.
More: NCAAM · Texas Longhorns
