Texas Basketball Makes Statement In 50-Point Rout Of Chicago State

Texas basketball didn't waste much time showing why expectations are soaring in Austin.

The No. 7 Longhorns opened the 2026-27 college basketball season Monday night by dismantling Chicago State 109-59 at Moody Center, delivering the kind of offensive performance that should get the attention of the rest of the Southeastern Conference.

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And leading the charge was a big man who simply couldn't miss.

Junior center Matas Vokietaitis scored a game-high 22 points on a perfect 9-for-9 shooting performance, adding six rebounds in just 25 minutes.

The 7-0 Lithuanian dominated around the basket and helped Texas shoot an impressive 62.5 percent from the floor.

For coach Sean Miller, the season opener offered an encouraging first look at a roster featuring 11 newcomers.

Sophomore guard Isaiah Johnson contributed 18 points, five assists and two steals while connecting on three shots from beyond the arc.

Freshman Joe Sterling made an immediate impression with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while highly regarded freshman forward Marcus Spears Jr. delivered 11 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots.

Spears, the 17-year-old former five-star recruit, showed why he's considered one of the most exciting young players in college basketball.

His four blocks matched the second-highest total by a Texas freshman in a debut, trailing only James Banks' five in 2016.

But Texas' impressive opening performance wasn't limited to individual scoring.

The Longhorns buried 13 3-pointers, shot 50 percent from deep and dominated the boards 44-22. They also held a commanding 27-9 advantage in second-chance points.

Freshman Austin Goosby added seven points, seven rebounds and eight assists, giving Texas another promising young contributor.

The Longhorns never trailed, jumping ahead 26-8 before carrying a 56-30 advantage into halftime.

They continued pulling away after the break, eventually building a 51-point lead.

The victory marked Texas' 25th consecutive home-opening win and its highest-scoring season opener since putting up 136 points against Oral Roberts in 1992.

Chicago State received 13 points from Will Lovings-Watts and 12 from Mike Price but couldn't match Texas' size, shooting or depth.

Perhaps the most encouraging development for Miller is that Texas accomplished all this without injured guard Mikey Lewis.

The Saint Mary's transfer, who averaged 14 points last season, is recovering from foot surgery and is expected back around Christmas.

The Longhorns reached the Sweet 16 in Miller's first season and now appear equipped to build on that success.

Of course, Chicago State isn't the kind of opponent that will define Texas' championship potential.

But scoring 109 points while introducing so many new faces?

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That's an impressive opening statement.

Texas returns to Moody Center Thursday against Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m. Central, with the game streaming on SEC Network+.