NEW YORK — In a thrilling finish at the Barclays Center on Friday night, Tre Johnson contributed significantly with 17 points as Texas secured a 67-58 victory against Saint Joseph’s in the championship game of the UKG Legends Classic.

Johnson had a challenging shooting night, making 7 of his 18 attempts from the field but successfully converting all of his free throw attempts, including two crucial ones during the closing moments of the game. The Longhorns improved their record to 5-1 with this win.

Alongside Johnson, Arthur Kaluma played a pivotal role, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots. Julian Larry, coming off the bench, also made an impact by scoring 12 points including two 3-pointers, while Kadin Shedrick contributed 10 points and pulled down six rebounds.

Saint Joseph’s was led by Rasheer Fleming, who had a standout performance with 16 points and a remarkable 20 rebounds, marking a career high. Xzayvier Brown supported him with 15 points.

The first half was close, with Johnson and Kaluma each contributing nine points to help Texas edge ahead with a slight 32-30 lead at the break. The Hawks came out strong in the second half, with Brown hitting a 3-pointer that gave them the lead at 39-38 with 12:50 remaining in the game.

As the Hawks moved ahead on subsequent possessions, Texas consistently matched their scores, maintaining a tight contest. With 5:29 left in the game, Fleming’s dunk gave Saint Joseph’s a 52-51 advantage. However, Texas responded decisively; Shedrick scored back-to-back dunks from offensive rebounds, followed by Johnson hitting two free throws and a layup in an 8-0 run that allowed the Longhorns to regain control with just over two minutes to spare.

This victory marked Texas’s first win in a regular-season tournament since they triumphed at the Maui Invitational in 2020. Due to the pandemic, that tournament was relocated to Asheville, North Carolina.

Next up for Texas is a home game against Delaware State on the upcoming Friday, while Saint Joseph’s is set to host Coppin State on Tuesday.