Texas holds off late Penn State rally to advance to Sweet 16

Dylan Disu had a season-high 28 points connected 14-for-20 shooting, steadying Texas down nan agelong aft a precocious Penn State surge and starring nan Longhorns to their first location successful 15 years pinch a 71-66 triumph successful nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.

The second-seeded Longhorns (28-8) made conscionable 1 of 13 shots from 3-point land, truthful Disu turned this into a mid-range game. He went 5-for-5 complete nan last 4 1/2 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds for bully measure.

Sir'Jabari Rice scored 13 points for Texas, which will play nan Pittsburgh-Xavier victor connected Friday successful nan Midwest Region semifinals successful Kansas City, Missouri. The 11th-seeded Panthers and third-seeded Musketeers meet connected Sunday.

Camren Wynter had 16 points for nan 10th-seeded Nittany Lions (23-14), who were coming disconnected their first NCAA Tournament triumph successful 20 years. Second-team All-American Jalen Pickett had 11 points and 10 rebounds pinch 7 turnovers.

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Dylan Disu #1 of nan Texas Longhorns reacts aft a made handbasket against nan Penn State Nittany Lions during nan 2nd half successful nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Wells Fargo Arena connected March 18, 2023, successful Des Moines, Iowa.  (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Andrew Funk (12 points) and Seth Lundy (11 points) rallied aft a scoreless first half for each, but nan apical 2 3-point shooters successful nan Big Ten this play went a mixed 4-for-16. Penn State was 8-for-28 from deep, contempt a dependable watercourse of cleanable looks successful nan 2nd half.

The extracurricular shots that each squad leaned connected nan first information mostly dried up, pinch nan Longhorns going 31:18 without 1 until Rice, who deed 7 3s connected Thursday, connected for a 55-48 lead.

Nittany Lions responded pinch a 10-0 run. Myles Dread, nan 1 feline pinch an extracurricular rhythm, deed his 4th 3-pointer of nan crippled pinch 6:08 near to trim nan shortage to one. After Wynter gave Penn State its first lead since 4-3 pinch a brace of free throws, Timmy Allen threw a chaotic walk into nan backcourt for a Texas turnover that Lundy tracked down for a layup to make it 58-55.

Texas defender Tyrese Hunter (4) celebrates pinch teammate defender Sir'Jabari Rice (10) successful nan first half of a second-round assemblage hoops crippled against Penn State successful nan NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 18, 2023, successful Des Moines, Iowa. ((AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON'S EXPLICIT ABBREVIATION PUTS INTERNET IN FRENZY AFTER MARCH MADNESS UPSET

But Disu came backmost pinch 3 consecutive baskets, a layup, a jumper and a turnaround to springiness Texas nan lead backmost for good. Wynter took a important over-and-back telephone retired of a timeout pinch 1:59 near that Marcus Carr followed pinch a layup for Texas.

Carr fouled Lundy connected a 3-pointer pinch 4 seconds near for a four-point play that made it a one-possession game, but Carr vanished disconnected nan crippled pinch a brace of free throws. After nan last horn, Allen flashed a large grin arsenic he approached Rice for a hug and yelled, "Sweet 16, baby!"

Texas past went to nan location semifinal successful 2008 and hasn't made nan Final Four since 2003. Interim coach Rodney Terry was an adjunct connected that team, and nan strong-bonded Longhorns person made nary concealed of their emotion for their unassuming, raspy-voiced leader who took complete successful December for Chris Beard successful nan fallout from a since-dropped home unit charge.

NO ‘D’ FOR DISU

The Nittany Lions did a good occupation defending a Texas squad that went 13 for 23 from 3-point scope successful nan first round, but Disu was a different story. Hailing from Pflugerville, Texas, conscionable extracurricular Austin, Disu joined nan Longhorns past play aft starting his profession astatine Vanderbilt.

Disu, named nan Most Outstanding Player of nan Big 12 Tournament, is nan tallest subordinate astatine 6-foot-9 connected this guard-dominant team. His agelong arms and expertise to softly driblet successful those rainbow floaters successful and astir nan paint, a accomplishment he precocious added to his game, make him play bigger than he is.

Texas guardant Dylan Disu celebrates aft making a handbasket successful nan 2nd half of a first-round assemblage hoops crippled against Colgate successful nan NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 16, 2023, successful Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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SECURITY PERIMETER

The Longhorns squeezed Colgate’s best-in-the-country 3-point shooting successful their first-round victory, erstwhile nan Raiders went 3 for 15 from agelong range.

Penn State presented nan aforesaid perimeter threat, classed 5th successful nan federation and caller disconnected a 13-for-23 session successful nan first-round triumph complete Texas A&M. The Nittany Lions group nan all-time single-season Big Ten grounds for made 3-pointers.

This Texas defense judge has immoderate crisp teeth, though. The Longhorns held their erstwhile 5 opponents, including Kansas doubly and TCU, to an mean of 57 points per game. Funk pulled up from nan correct helping for a 3-pointer conscionable 14 seconds into nan crippled that deed nan beforehand of nan rim, a motion of really nan nighttime was going to unfold. Carr, Rice and Tyrese Hunter each took turns pursuing him around.