AUSTIN, Texas — The new-look defense led by assistant coach Luke Yaklich and several offensive onslaughts helped the Texas Longhorns pull away from the Northern Colorado Bears for a season-opening 69-45 victory on Tuesday evening at the Erwin Center in which the Longhorns never trailed.
Sophomore guard Andrew Jones played extensive minutes — nearly 30 total — for the first time in 23 months and provided a spark off the bench for head coach Shaka Smart, including eight straight points early in the second half as the Horns extended a 19-point halftime lead to 27 points, 50-23.