Texas tough: Defense shines when offense struggles in virtual must-win over Kansas State

The Longhorns held off Kansas State 62-56 Monday at Moody Center, improving to 6-7 in Big 12 Conference play after a rough-and-tumble game that both teams weren't great offensively.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It wasn't the best night for the Texas Longhorns, but it was good enough.

The Longhorns held off Kansas State 62-56 Monday at Moody Center, improving to 6-7 in Big 12 Conference play after a rough-and-tumble game that both teams weren't great offensively.

Both squads were well below average shooting the ball, Texas shot 36% after entering the game at 47% while Kansas State also made 36% of their shots after shooting 43% for the season, but the Longhorns found an advantage at the foul line. Texas sunk 17 of 24 free throws while Kansas State was 11 for 16.

Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry said it was one of the better team wins of the season.

"Every guy that played made a big contribution," he said. "We closed out the last four minutes of the game right way."

Dylan Disu scored the final six points for the Longhorns, four foul shots and a dunk, to end with a game-high 20 points on 5 of 11 shooting and 10 of 11 from the foul line. Disu was the only Longhorn to score in double figures.

What they lacked on offense, Texas made up for defensively. The Longhorns forced 13 turnovers with seven steals and five blocked shots and outrebounded the Wildcats 42-39, led by Dillon Mitchell's 10 boards. Disu said the team's commitment to that end of the floor will be crucial as the regular season comes to a close.

"We know that if we play defense, we're going to have a chance in every game," Disu said. "We didn't let our offense dictate what we did on defense."

With a pull-up jumper from the foul line early in the second half, Texas guard Max Abmas became the 12th player in NCAA men's history to score 3,000 points. Abmas ended the game with eight points on 3 of 10 shooting.

"It's something I'll appreciate when I'm done playing, but we needed that win tonight and that's what I was focused on," Abmas said.

Neither team could find the touch from 3-point range, shooting a combined 8 for 38. Ithiel Horton came off the bench and provided some outside shooting with a pair of 3-pointers, but the Longhorns were 3 for 19 from long range.

Kansas State freshman Dai Dai Ames was ejected for a flagrant foul on Texas' Chendall Weaver during a fastbreak. Weaver elevated to dunk on the break when Ames jumped from a blindside angle and hit Weaver in the head and neck area, sending him tumbling to the floor. Weaver shook off the physical play and made both foul shots with 3:21 left to give Texas a 54-42 lead.

"I told him to take a deep breath and gather himself," Terry said. "He hit a couple of big shots and did a great job finishing that play."

The Wildcats cut the deficit to four points with 0:50 left, but Disu finished it off for Texas with his free throws and a breakaway dunk.

Texas (17-9, 6-7 Big 12) heads to Allen Fieldhouse to take on No. 9 Kansas on Saturday. The Jayhawks are undefeated at The Phog this season.