Texas turns aside bid by New Mexico State

Kevin Durant's first NCAA tournament game went just as his first collegiate regular season - beyond his years.

The 18-year-old candidate for national player of the year had 27 points and eight rebounds to lead fourth-seeded Texas to a 79-67 victory over hard-charging New Mexico State last night in Spokane, Wash., in the first round of the East Regional.

Durant's long-armed tip-ins, smooth pivot moves, sudden pull-up jumpers and blocked shots had NBA scouts chuckling courtside. Then he went the first 12 minutes of the second half without a field goal but made 11 of 12 free throws in the second half and 15 of 16 overall.

He connected on two from the line after a rebound with 1 minute, 10 seconds left that put Texas ahead ny 75-66 and essentially ended the game.

Classmate D.J. Augustin had 19 points and seven assists, and sophomore A.J. Abrams added 16 points for the Longhorns (25-9), who start four freshmen and have seven on their 12-man roster.

Elijah Ingram had 16 points for 13th-seeded New Mexico State (25-9), which was making its first NCAA appearance since 1999 but still has not advanced past the first round since '93.

The Aggies rallied from 12 down with 16 minutes remaining to take a 58-57 lead with 7:10 left on two free throws by Jonathan Gibson, who had just air-balled a wide-open three.

But then Durant, who entered last night as the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 in scoring (25.6 points per game) and rebounding (11.3), got into a team huddle on the floor, clapped twice and said "Let's go!"

The Longhorns responded with a 12-4 run that featured Durant making six straight free throws and stealing a pass near midcourt.

The game marked the return to the national stage of former NBA guard Reggie Theus, who in his first two years in Las Cruces, N.M., transformed the Aggies from a 6-24 disaster behind six transfers. The well-dressed Theus, a former broadcaster and actor whom his players jokingly call "Hollywood," lost some of the sideline glamour behind his all-black suit, tie and shirt ensemble four minutes into the second half.

He received a key technical foul, after a second offensive foul call against his team in two possessions. During the ensuing time-out, Theus continually asked a referee, "Why don't we just stop playing?" When the official asked the former Chicago Bulls all-star to quiet his complaining, Theus kept talking.

Abrams converted both technical free throws and Connor Atchley made his first three-pointer on the ensuing possession to put Texas ahead 45-33.

But New Mexico state would not go away. Behind Ingram's strong play, the Aggies went on a 9-0 run to cut it to 53-52 with 91/2 minutes left. Durant didn't make his first field goal of the second half until eight minutes remained. But that one kept Texas up by three.

The Aggies never could get leading scorer Justin Hawkins fully involved against the defense of Justin Mason. Hawkins didn't score his first basket of the second half until 3:11 remained. He finished with 11 points - six below his average - on just eight shots.

Texas spent most of the first half trailing the Aggies and their inside-outside offense. But Durant changed that.

First, he turned and pivoted past David Fisher for an acrobatic basket that got the Longhorns within two. Then he showed his versatility. He pulled up for a 16-foot jumper over Fisher to tie it. On the defensive end, he blocked a shot by Fisher into a Texas fast break.

Abrams ended that with a three-pointer, and the Longhorns led by 33-30 at halftime.

Southern California 77, Arkansas 60 - Nick Young scored 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the fifth-seeded Trojans (24-11) past the 12th-seeded Razorbacks (21-14) in Spokane.

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Georgetown (27-6) vs. Boston College (21-11), 5:50 p.m.

North Carolina (29-6) vs. Michigan State (23-11),

30 minutes after previous game.

At Arco Arena,

Sacramento, Calif.

Washington State (26-7)

vs. Vanderbilt (21-11),

5:55 p.m.

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