ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Courtney Ramey’s reverse layup with 20 seconds remaining lifted No. 19/22 Texas over Davidson, 78-76, on day one of the Maui Invitational inside the Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
After the Longhorns (2-0) pushed the margin to seven on several occasions in the second half, including 72-65 with 5:06 to play, the ‘Cats slowly chipped away at their largest deficit and eventually tied it, 76-76, on a Luka Brajkovic hook with 1:02 to play.
Sam Mennenga, who led all players with 17 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists, had two looks from long range in the closing seconds, but was unable to convert.
“We fought the entire game, all 40 minutes,” said Davidson head coach Bob McKillop. “We got a great look we wanted at the end of the game, and we went for the win.”
Mennenga, this week’s Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, finished 6-of-10 from the floor and hit two of his club’s five 3-pointers.
Kellan Grady (14), Brajkovic (12) and Carter Collins (10) also added double figures for the Wildcats, who shot 56.5 percent.
Ramey was one of six Texas players in double figures with 14 points.
Davidson could not have scripted a better start as the Wildcats opened 10-of-13 from the floor and built a 23-16 advantage midway through the first half. The Longhorns responded with a spurt of their own to grab their first lead before going to the break up, 43-39.
In a game that had 46 fouls combined, each team scored 34 points in the paint and just 9 turnovers.
The Wildcats fall to 1-1 on the young season and will take on the loser of Indiana/Providence Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
“We have a great opportunity in front of us again tomorrow,” McKillop stated.
