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Augustin, Texas aim for best start in 26 years

Dec 8, 2007 - 3:04 PM No. 5 Texas (8-0) at Rice (2-5) 8:00 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- D.J. Augustin and No. 5 Texas will try and start a season with nine straight wins for the first time in 26 years when they visit in-state rival Rice on Saturday.

The Longhorns, who have started 8-0 for the second time in the last three seasons, upset then-No. 1 UCLA on Saturday and then beat North Texas on Wednesday.

Texas has not seemed fazed by the loss of Kevin Durant, the National Player of the Year in 2006. That is because they have a balanced attack, which had four players in double figures in an 88-72 win over the Mean Green.

Augustin was the catalyst in that game as he scored 29 points and recorded 10 assists, for the Longhorns, who have not started 9-0 since opening the season 14-0 in 1981.

Texas should have no problem winning a ninth straight game against Rice, which is coming off an 88-81 win over Texas State on Wednesday.

Patrick Britton scored a career-high 24 points in the win for the Owls, who trails the all-time series with Texas, 130-59, and have lost nine of the last 10 meetings.