Austin, Texas — In an outstanding performance on Thursday night, Jordan Pope showcased his shooting skills by sinking 8 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc, resulting in a personal best of 42 points. This achievement sets the record for the Moody Center and ties Pope for the second highest scoring in a Division I men’s basketball game thus far this season, leading Texas to a decisive 98-62 victory over New Orleans.

Arthur Kaluma contributed significantly to the Longhorns’ success with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Chendall Weaver added 12 points of his own. The previous record at Moody Center was held by Marcus Carr, who scored 41 points in December 2022. The season’s highest score in a Division I game belongs to Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton, who scored 49 points back on November 6. Pope had previously achieved a career high of 31 points before this game.

On the other side, New Orleans struggled, with Dae Dae Hunter leading the team with 16 points. Jah Short and James White contributed 15 and 14 points respectively, with White also pulling down eight rebounds. MJ Thomas chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds, but the Privateers’ performance has been shaky, as they have now lost four consecutive games and six out of their last seven contests.

The game commenced with the Longhorns taking control early on, as Kaluma scored multiple baskets within the first few minutes, helping Texas establish a commanding 16-0 lead. Devon Pryor’s free throws with 13:39 remaining ensured that Texas would never trail in the match. Although New Orleans managed to cut their deficit to six points on two occasions, they were unable to close the gap further.

Pope, who transferred from Oregon State where he averaged 17.6 points and 3.4 assists last season, played a pivotal role in a decisive run that saw the Longhorns surge ahead by 22 points with only 1:51 left in the first half. Following that moment, Texas maintained a lead of double figures for the remainder of the contest.

Historically, Texas holds a 2-2 record against UNO. The Longhorns previously faced New Orleans in the early ’80s, suffering a 74-56 loss on December 11, 1982, followed by a 64-58 defeat at home on November 30, 1983.