Abmas’ buzzer-beater lifts Texas over Louisville at MSG

Max Abmas’ last-second shot helped Texas escape upset-minded Louisville Sunday. (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports Images)

By Sam Federman (@Sam_Federman)

NEW YORK — This is why Max Abmas is at Texas. These are the moments that every player, coach, and fan lives for. 

Eight seconds left at the inbound, and just under four as the Oral Roberts transfer collected the ball at the top of the key. Abmas took three dribbles to his right, and couldn’t gain any separation on Louisville defender Skyy Clark, but he knew he had to rise up. 

The ball flew through the air and found its way to the bottom of the net, and the Longhorns had escaped with a victory.

The game was significantly closer than many expected. It was a back-and-forth battle that saw No. 19 Texas (4-0) and Louisville (2-2) exchange the lead on 21 different occasions, including the decisive one at the end. The Longhorns came out on top, 81-80, in the second leg of the day one doubleheader at the Empire Classic, earning the right to face No. 4 UConn tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. The Cardinals will face Indiana, the loser of the first game, at 4:30.

“It’s everything that you dream of as a kid,” Abmas said. “To be able to play in a big-time venue like MSG and hit a game-winner, it’s something special.”

“Max is a winner at the highest level,” head coach Rodney Terry gushed. “He’s arguably the best player to ever play at Oral Roberts, and he’s coming over to play on the main stage. He’s a Texas guy (originally from Dallas), getting the chance to play for the flagship program in the state and have moments like this in Madison Square Garden.”

However, despite the big shot at the end, it wasn’t the shooting of the man they call “Midcourt Max” that lifted the Longhorns in this game, as he shot just 6-for-19 from the field, but the toughness provided in the low post, and extra efforts offered late in the game.

While Texas was outrebounded, 38-37, it got clutch glasswork from Austin native Brock Cunningham late in the game. With under two minutes to play and trailing by one point, Cunningham grabbed a missed free throw from Kadin Shedrick and then drew a foul. After he sunk both free throws, he’d given the Longhorns the lead back. It was one of four offensive rebounds on free throws that allowed Texas to sneak past Louisville on the evening.

“Brock is super continuous, he does all of the dirty work for us,” Shedrick expressed. “I don't know how many offensive rebounds we had on free throws, but I know I missed four, and I think Brock got the rebound three times.”

Shedrick’s performance isn’t to be ignored either, as his career-high of 27 points came against a Louisville frontline that he forced into foul trouble. Highly touted freshman Dennis Evans was only able to play 13 minutes thanks to his issues staying disciplined, and Shedrick took advantage. Texas outscored Louisville 48-30 in the paint, dunking the ball 16 times.

Louisville’s performance, to the surprise of many, was a positive indictment of a program that has had many struggles. It was the best game in Clark’s career, scoring 20 points, including two massive 3-pointers within the last few minutes of the game. In fact, it was Clark who was the defender on the final possession for Texas that Abmas miraculously shot over for the victory.

“I just needed to stay in front of the ball, and we needed to talk on defense,” the Illinois transfer said, “and that was a great shot.” “I thought I played some really good defense, but that’s Max, he’s a tough shotmaker, that’s what he does.”

The irony of the game shifting due to offensive rebounds on the Texas side comes with how well the Cardinals rebounded all afternoon.

“We’re a rebounding team,” Tre White said. “It’s just a mental mistake, and it cost us.”

In addition to Evans, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield fouled out of the game with nine rebounds in 27 minutes. The lack of his presence on the court made it difficult for Louisville to cope with the size that Texas played with late in the game. White had seven boards, and JJ Traynor had six, but neither of them grabbed the big one at the end.

Kenny Payne was pleased with his team’s performance after the game.

“It was the first semblance that we’ve had all year of the way we look in practice,” Louisville’s second-year head man proclaimed. “That’s the team that I want to show up every night.”

He still understands the group has a long way to go, but he continued to reiterate his belief in the pieces on the roster to reach the team’s goal. One of those pieces, freshman Ty-Laur Johnson, played at a high level in his first game back in his home city of New York, scoring a season-high 14 points.

For Louisville to reach its ceiling, Clark and Johnson both need to bottle up their performances from today, but more is going to be required from Evans in the frontcourt. As for Texas, UConn presents a unique challenge for any team, but if the game comes down to one possession, they know that they have a man to get the job done.