DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Dylan Disu had a season-high 28 points on 14-for-20 shooting, steadying Texas down the stretch after a late Penn State surge and leading the Longhorns to their first Sweet 16 in 15 years with a 71-66 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.
The No. 2 seed Longhorns (28-8) were just 1 for 13 from 3-point land, so Disu turned this into a mid-range game. He went 5 for 5 over the last 4 1/2 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds for good measure.
“We've never played against a big man with that type of touch," Penn State's Seth Lundy said. “I don’t remember him missing, not one floater. He would do it from 10 feet, 15 feet, 5 feet.”
Sir'Jabari Rice scored 13 points for Texas, which will play the Pittsburgh-Xavier winner on Friday in the Midwest Region semifinals in Kansas City, Missouri. The 11th-seeded Panthers and third-seeded Musketeers meet on Sunday.
“A lot of my shots I took one dribble on, so that means my teammates had to find me first,” said Disu, who has family in Iowa and had several close relatives watching him at Wells Fargo Arena. “Credit to them and credit to the coaches for putting me in positions to score.”
Camren Wynter had 16 points for the No. 10 seed Nittany Lions (23-14), who were coming off their first NCAA Tournament victory in 20 years as the capstone of rising star coach Micah Shrewsberry's second season.
“These are my guys forever, because they took a chance on me,” said Shrewsberry, with red-eyed seniors Lundy, Myles Dread and Jalen Pickett next to him at the podium.
Second-team All-American Jalen Pickett had 11 points and 10 rebounds with seven turnovers for Penn State. Andrew Funk (12 points) and Lundy (11 points) rallied after a scoreless first half for each, but the top two 3-point shooters in the Big Ten this season went a combined 4 for 16. Penn State was 8 for 28 from deep, despite a steady stream of clean looks in the second half.
The outside shots that each team leaned on the first round mostly dried up, with the Longhorns going 31:18 without one until Rice - who hit seven 3s on Thursday - connected for a 55-48 lead.
Then the Nittany Lions responded with a 10-0 run. Myles Dread hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 6:08 left to cut the deficit to one. After Wynter gave Penn State its first lead since 4-3 with a pair of free throws, Timmy Allen threw a wild pass into the backcourt for a Texas turnover that Lundy tracked down for a layup to make it 58-55.
But Disu came back with three straight baskets - a layup, a jumper and a turnaround - to give Texas the lead back for good.
Marcus Carr fouled Lundy on a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left for a four-point play that made it a one-possession game, but Carr finished off the game with a pair of free throws. After the final horn, Allen flashed a big smile as he approached Rice for a hug and yelled “Sweet 16, baby!”
GREATER PURPOSE
Texas last went to a regional semifinal in 2008 and hasn't made the Final Four since 2003. Interim coach Rodney Terry was an assistant on that team, and the Longhorns have made no secret of their love for their unassuming, raspy-voiced leader who took over for Chris Beard in December. Beard was suspended and later fired over a since-dropped domestic violence charge.
“What they’ve had to go through, these guys have been amazing,” Terry said.
NO ‘D’ FOR DISU
Hailing from Pflugerville, Texas, just outside Austin, Disu joined the Longhorns last season after starting his career at Vanderbilt.
Disu, the Most Outstanding Player of the Big 12 Tournament, is the tallest player at 6-foot-9 on this guard-dominant team. His long arms and ability to softly drop in rainbow floaters in and around the paint - a skill he recently added to his game - make him play bigger than he is.
“Our game plan offensively was to really own the paint,” Terry said.
Disu's scoring in an NCAA Tournament game was the most for Texas since Kevin Durant had 30 points in 2007, and the NBA star was watching from afar, tweeting his praise.
SECURITY PERIMETER
The Longhorns squeezed Colgate’s best-in-the-country 3-point shooting in their first-round victory, when the Raiders went 3 for 15 from long range.
Penn State presented the same perimeter threat, ranked fifth in the nation and fresh off a 13-for-23 clinic in its first-round win over Texas A&M. The Nittany Lions set the single-season Big Ten record for 3-pointers.
This Texas defense has some teeth, though. Funk pulled up from the right wing for a 3-point try 14 seconds into the game that hit the front of the rim, a sign of how the night was going to unfold. Carr, Rice and Tyrese Hunter took turns following Funk around after he went 8 for 10 from deep on Thursday.
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As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or emotions, but I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's break down the concepts and provide relevant information:
NCAA Tournament:
The NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness, is an annual college basketball tournament organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is a single-elimination tournament that features 68 teams from Division I of the NCAA. The tournament takes place in March and April and culminates in the Final Four, where the four remaining teams compete for the national championship. The tournament is known for its unpredictability and exciting games, capturing the attention of basketball fans across the United States.
Sweet 16:
The Sweet 16 refers to the round of 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament. After the first and second rounds, where 64 teams compete, the field is narrowed down to 16 teams. These teams compete in regional semifinals and finals to advance to the Elite Eight. Making it to the Sweet 16 is considered a significant achievement for college basketball programs, as it signifies reaching the later stages of the tournament.
Texas Longhorns:
The Texas Longhorns are the athletic teams representing the University of Texas at Austin. The Longhorns compete in the NCAA's Division I and are part of the Big 12 Conference. The men's basketball team, mentioned in the article, had a successful run in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time in 15 years.
Dylan Disu:
Dylan Disu is a basketball player who plays for the Texas Longhorns. In the game mentioned in the article, Disu had a standout performance, scoring a season-high 28 points on 14-for-20 shooting. He played a crucial role in leading the Longhorns to victory and securing their spot in the Sweet 16. Disu's ability to score from mid-range and his rebounding skills were instrumental in the team's success.
Penn State Nittany Lions:
The Penn State Nittany Lions are the athletic teams representing Pennsylvania State University. The men's basketball team, mentioned in the article, competed against the Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament. Despite a strong performance, the Nittany Lions were unable to secure a victory and were eliminated from the tournament.
Midwest Region:
The Midwest Region is one of the four regions in the NCAA Tournament bracket. It is one of the geographical divisions used to organize the tournament. The teams that advance from the Midwest Region compete against each other in the regional semifinals and finals to earn a spot in the Final Four.
Kansas City, Missouri:
Kansas City, Missouri, is a city located in the Midwestern United States. It is the largest city in Missouri and serves as a regional hub for culture, sports, and commerce. The city has hosted numerous sporting events, including NCAA Tournament games. In the article, it is mentioned as the location for the Midwest Region semifinals, where the Texas Longhorns will play the winner of the Pittsburgh-Xavier game.
Marcus Carr:
Marcus Carr is a basketball player who plays for the Texas Longhorns. He is mentioned in the article as the player who fouled Seth Lundy on a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left in the game. Carr then sealed the victory for Texas by making a pair of free throws.
Kevin Durant:
Kevin Durant is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA. He is considered one of the best players in the league and has had a successful career. In the article, it is mentioned that Dylan Disu's scoring performance in the NCAA Tournament was the most for Texas since Kevin Durant scored 30 points in 2007.
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