No. 8 Longhorns make it rain from deep, blow out No. 23 Iowa State

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The No. 8 Texas Longhorns were out to prove a point Tuesday against No. 23 Iowa State at Moody Center.

Coming off an overtime home win over unranked Oklahoma on Saturday, the Longhorns were deadly from 3-point range in a 72-54 blowout win over the Cyclones. Texas shot 12-for-28 from long distance led by Tyrese Hunter, who transferred from Iowa State in the offseason. He scored 15 points and was 3-for-5 from 3-point range, hitting long-distance shots at key times in the first half.

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Hunter scored 12 of his 15 in the opening half to help the Longhorns build a 47-29 lead at the break. He was just 3-for-11 from the field earlier in the season against the Cyclones on the road, and he said his preparation helped him knock down more shots.

“Some shots just didn’t fall up there, but we were just out there having fun out there tonight,” Hunter said. He helped key a 16-0 run early in the first half to stake the Longhorns to the big lead.

Perhaps just as impressive as the big run, the Longhorns held the Cyclones to 4-for-19 from 3-point range after coming into the game last in the Big 12 Conference in opponents’ 3-point percentage. Iowa State made 20 field goals and shot 43% from the field while Texas hit 27 shots in 57 attempts for 47%.

Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) celebrates as teammate Timmy Allen (0) scores against Iowa State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) reacts after scoring against Iowa State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas coach Rodney Terry reacts to a call during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) is tripped as he drives to the basket against Iowa State forward Tre King (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) drives to the basket between Texas guard Tyrese Hunter, left, and forward Christian Bishop (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey (3) drives to the basket against Texas guard Tyrese Hunter during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Timmy Allen (0) is defended by Iowa State forward Aljaz Kunc (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) drives to the basket against Iowa State forward Aljaz Kunc, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State forward Tre King (0) gets a hand on the ball as Texas forward Christian Bishop drives to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Timmy Allen celebrates a score against Iowa State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) drives to the basket between Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) and forward Christian Bishop (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State guard Jaren Holmes (13) shoots over Texas forward Brock Cunningham (30) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey (3) drives to the basket against Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) drives around Iowa State center Osun Osunniyi (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State center Osun Osunniyi reacts after scoring against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) is fouled by Iowa State guard Jaren Holmes (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Sir’Jabari Rice (10) celebrates a score against Iowa State with teammate Christian Bishop (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Timmy Allen (0) reacts to a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Iowa State coach T. J. Otzelberger signals to players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas head coach Rodney Terry reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Timmy Allen (0) looks to shoot against Iowa State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Longhorns interim head coach Rodney Terry said the team has built great chemistry, and that started before the season began.

“It was player-driven,” Terry said. “We didn’t have to force-feed these guys to hang out with each other, like each other, like playing with each other and being stars in the their roles. That’s been the biggest difference with this team.”

Jabari Rice poured in 15 points off the bench for the Longhorns and he shot 3-for-8 from 3-point range. Marcus Carr chipped in 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with five assists. With the win, Texas avenged a 78-67 loss to the Cyclones in Ames on Jan. 17. All nine players who checked in the game for the Longhorns scored.

“We have a variety of ways we can scores,” Terry said. “We can play through the post, we have great guards and we can play off our defense. We need an elite-level defense to get us through March.”

Texas (22-6, 11-4 Big 12 Conference) is now 16-1 at home this year, but has to hit the road for a top-10 matchup with No. 9 Baylor on Saturday in Waco. The win keeps Texas in a first-place tie with Kansas atop the Big 12 standings. Iowa State (17-10, 8-7) hosts Oklahoma on Saturday.

Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) drives around Iowa State center Osun Osunniyi (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas,…

Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) drives around Iowa State center Osun Osunniyi (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

by: Billy Gates

Posted: Feb 21, 2023 / 10:16 PM CST

Updated: Feb 21, 2023 / 10:16 PM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The No. 8 Texas Longhorns were out to prove a point Tuesday against No. 23 Iowa State at Moody Center.

MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters

Hunter scored 12 of his 15 in the opening half to help the Longhorns build a 47-29 lead at the break.

Perhaps just as impressive, the Longhorns held the Cyclones to 4-for-19 from 3-point range after coming into the game last in the Big 12 in opponents’ 3-point percentage. Iowa State made 20 field goals and shot 43% from the field while Texas hit 27 shots in 57 attempts for 47%.

Jabari Rice poured in 15 points off the bench for the Longhorns and he shot 3-for-8 from 3-point range. Marcus Carr chipped in 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with five assists.

More details will be added to this story following the postgame press conference. Check back for more later.