Texas Basketball Dominates Grambling State as Vokietaitis Scores 26

Texas basketball is making an early statement, and Matas Vokietaitis is emerging as one of the biggest reasons the Longhorns look like a legitimate national contender.

The junior center scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 23 minutes Monday night, powering No. 7 Texas to a 93-62 demolition of Grambling State at Moody Center.

MORE: Texas Faces Dangerous LSU Defense as Playoff Stakes Rise in Baton Rouge

The victory improved the Longhorns to 3-0 and gave them three consecutive wins by at least 30 points to open a season for the first time since 2003-04.

And through three games, Texas hasn't given opponents much reason to believe that streak will end anytime soon.

Vokietaitis dominated around the basket, connecting on eight of 12 field-goal attempts and 10 of 12 free throws. He also collected four offensive rebounds, finishing just one rebound shy of a double-double.

His 26 points were two short of his career high.

Texas wasted little time taking control.

After opening with six unanswered points, the Longhorns unleashed a 16-0 run to build a 22-3 advantage midway through the first half.

The lead ballooned to 55-27 by halftime, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Freshman Joe Sterling provided an immediate offensive spark, scoring 13 points in only 16 minutes while connecting on three of four attempts from beyond the arc.

Fellow freshman Marcus Spears Jr. added 12 points and four rebounds, continuing his impressive introduction to college basketball.

Elyjah Freeman contributed 11 points and six rebounds, while David Punch finished with 10 points, six boards, three steals and two blocked shots.

Five Longhorns scored in double figures.

Texas shot 50.8 percent from the field, marking its third consecutive game converting at least half its attempts.

The Longhorns also dominated the interior, outscoring Grambling State 46-18 in the paint while winning the rebounding battle 45-34.

Defensively, Texas limited the Tigers to 35.9 percent shooting and just 23.1 percent from three-point range.

However, head coach Sean Miller wasn't entirely satisfied.

After building a 44-point second-half advantage, Texas allowed Grambling State to close the game with a 19-6 run.

"We let down," Miller acknowledged afterward.

The late lapse gives the Longhorns something to address before facing considerably tougher competition.

Texas returns to action Sunday against Baylor in the San Antonio Hoops Showdown at Frost Bank Center.

The game tips off at 2 p.m. Central on ESPN.

After three comfortable victories, the Longhorns will finally get a more meaningful test.

MORE: Arch Manning Wins SEC Honor After Leading Texas Past Missouri

Vokietaitis and his teammates have demonstrated they can overwhelm overmatched opponents.

Now they'll have an opportunity to show whether that early dominance translates against a familiar former Big 12 rival.