Texas Hangs On Against Villanova

mjdeadspin|published: Sat 14th January, 15:31 2006

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In maybe the biggest contrast of styles that's even possible between two teams in the Top 20, Texas held on to beat Villanova in an excellent game, 58-55. This one was much better for the Longhorns than the last time they played a top-5 team on CBS.

They did lose Big Bad Brad Buckman to an ankle injury in the first half, though. It's a re-aggravation of an earlier ankle tweek. Let's hope he gets healed up and can finish out what seems like his 14th season at Texas.

Villanova shot just 27% from the floor, including 7-of-30 from three-point land. Looking at those numbers, it's somewhat bewidlering that they were even in the game, but for the first 30 minutes or so, Texas outright refused to take advantage of their height. They pounded the paint a little more when they needed to, and LaMarcus Aldridge eventually finished with a game-high 19 points.