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  Saturday, Dec. 18 2:00pm ET
Texas sends Wofford packing
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- After two weeks of offensive struggles, Texas coach Rick Barnes figured it was time for a change.

As intimidating as his big lineup could be, it wasn't producing what Barnes wanted. Going small did.

Starting a three-guard lineup for the first time this season, the Longhorns (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) rolled to an 89-57 victory over Wofford Saturday.

"I just think we flow better right now," Barnes said. "I really do."

Chris Mihm led Texas (6-2) with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Ian Chadwick topped Wofford (3-5) with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including four of seven from 3-point range.

Barnes wanted to spark his struggling offense by moving 6-foot-7 forward Chris Owens to the bench to create a three-way rotation among Owens, the 7-foot Mihm and 6-7 forward Gabe Muoneke up front.

With 6-foot-1 Ivan Wagner, 6-2 William Clay and 6-1 Lawrence Williams running the floor and creating quicker ball movement around the perimeter, Texas produced its highest point total of the season and its smoothest game offensively in two weeks.

Wagner, Clay and Williams combined for 29 points and Chris McColpin came off the bench to score 12 on four 3-pointers.

The new lineup struggled at first as Wofford hit its first four 3-pointers and Texas started cold. Chadwick's second 3-pointer gave the Terriers an 18-11 lead with 12:29 to play in the first half and Mihm had yet to take a shot.

"Even when we were missing shots at the beginning of the game, I was trying to be real patient," Barnes said.

Mihm's first basket at 10:40 made it 20-13 and started a 29-9 Texas run to close the half that put the Longhorns ahead by 11. Mihm had 11 points in the run.

Williams, who missed his only shot in the first half, hit two 3-pointers and a short jumper as Texas quickly increased its lead to 50-34 with 16:16 left in the second half.

Texas shot 53 percent from the floor for the game. The quicker ball movement created by the smaller lineup prevented Wofford's defense from collapsing under the basket around Mihm. It also opened the floor up for more one-on-one situations for Texas.

Once that happened, Wofford had nothing inside to counter Mihm and the muscular Muoneke, who added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Longhorns.

"The size is always there but we haven't been producing," Mihm said. "We used out size to move the ball inside and out very well today."

Owens, who played 15 minutes off the bench before fouling out, had nine points and six rebounds. The Longhorns had 25 assists, including a career-high six by Muoneke.

"The biggest key to the game? Talent differential," said Wofford coach Richard Johnson.

The smaller lineup also allowed Texas to extend its defense to harass Wofford into 18 turnovers and countless tipped passes that disrupted the Terriers' offense. The Longhorns held Wofford to 34 percent shooting.

"That was the toughest defense I've ever played against. They kept throwing fresh legs at you," Chadwick said.

"We were not real worried about the guys guarding on the perimeter, but the guys inside like Muoneke and Mihm waiting on us behind that," Johnson said.

 


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