Texas 81, Lipscomb 66: After the high season, Longhorns are NIT champions

NEW YORK – Eventually, the details of what has happened this season in various outposts such as Stillwater, Athens or Lubbock will disappear into oblivion.

How big were those tracks against Michigan State and Baylor? What was the name of the guy who blocked the shot in Oklahoma? What happened in the last match in Kansas? All answers will become unclear if it is not completely forgotten.

What happened this week at Madison Square Garden is another, more permanent.

All Texas Longhorns who traveled to New York will remember what happened this week at NIT. The events of Thursday's 81-66 victory over Lipscomb will be classified and cataloged in a gray matter as if it were the Library of Congress.

Texas, a team that has been extremely inconsistent throughout the regular season, has come together to win five games and win the NIT championship. The Longhorns finished the year 21-16. This is the second title of the NIT program; Texas also won the event in 1978.

"If we could put everyone on the same footing throughout the year," said goalkeeper Matt Coleman III, "we will be a very high level team."

These Horns will remember how Kerwin Roach II ended his career in UT with a 360-degree jump to the Garden. "It was a breathtaking moment," Roach said. That's what he did playing NBA 2K, the famous basketball video game. "But it's something I've always wanted to do in real life."

RELATED: NIT notebook: layer of Royce Hamm, block, Texas stabilized in energy in the first half

They will remember that Courtney Ramey's lock-down defense has just locked Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb's elite shooter. Ramey said "it was an honor" to be charged with such responsibility. He would have little or no help, according to the game plan.

Mathews, who racked up 21.1 points on average, was 0-in-3 in the first half and did not score a bucket until 8:22. It was his ninth attempt. He finished with 15 harmless points on two shots to ten.

"He was locked up," said Coleman III about Ramey. "It was all that mattered to him to keep Mathews and take him out with him. He did a hellish job, a hellish job! Probably the best job that someone has done all year. "

And they will remember climbing the ladder and cutting the net after winning. They will inform their friends and family members of the opportunity to take a team photo in the New York Knicks' locker room and spend the night in a city that never sleeps.

"We all said that deep down," said Ramey. "I think we could have done it earlier, but I'm glad we did it at the right time and finished with a championship. We should have won a lot of games this year. "

The coach will never forget that either. Shaka Smart was surprised by a festive water bottle bath, which became a necessity in the NCAA tournament. Alas, this is the NIT, where the winner is considered, jokingly, as "the 69th best American team".

Still, Smart met reporters wearing a NIT champion t-shirt, while his wet white shirt was draped over the desk.

"The goal every year is not to make the NCAA tournament but to advance in the NCAA tournament," said Smart. "That being said, I'm proud that our guys have won a championship. It's not like we're overflowing with those. I hope it's something we can really, really do.

So proud of the work these guys have been doing all year. ?? pic.twitter.com/o9rkoK9UKT

– Shaka Smart (@HookEmSmart) April 5, 2019

The sports director believes well.

"We want to be an NCAA championship program. That's our goal, "said Chris Del Conte afterward. "We have a good coach. They are good people and they do it the right way. "

Del Conte has always refused to talk about Smart's professional status last month, when things went wrong and UT finished the 16-16 regular season. "We are not where we want to be," he said. "But won him the NIT. We are making progress. I am happy."

Most people will remember how the two Texas seniors came out of the shadows. Dylan Osetkowski had 19 points and three points with 3 points and 11 rebounds. His mother has shown great moves on the Dance Cam, so it will be a fun story during the holidays.

Roach had 16 points and nine career assists. A player who has been suspended three times during his university career and has probably missed opportunities has made the most of his last game.

Coleman, Ramey and Roach all scored 3 points in the second half when Lipscomb found their mojo after a difficult first period. Then Royce Hamm Jr., a bench energizer, had a dunk and Texas led 57-45.

Speaking of Hamm, his block in the first half should deserve a special notation. He practically jumped and slapped Wilt Chamberlain's banner to avoid Kenny Cooper's layup attempt.

At this point, the Bisons (29-8) began to take revenge on horns, officials and anyone who wanted to listen. Rob Marberry shouted blasphemies as a guy who struggles at the leisure center at lunch time. And he still finished with 17 points, a top in the team.

This time, when the opponent gained momentum, Texas fell even stronger. Coleman's trey and Osetkowski's easy jumper allowed the team to score 14 points. Coleman even shot a charge with 5:05 to go, and even though it was not the UT season, you knew it was Horny night.

The incredible dunk of Roach with 2h33 remaining was only the hairdresser.

"It will be a nice picture on Instagram. That's all I have to say, "said Ramey. "It's going to have a lot of tastes on that one."

Contact Brian Davis at 512-445-3957. E-mail [email protected].