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Texas hoping for impressive victory against UCLA

Dec 4, 2008 - 11:20 AM No. 9 UCLA (4-1) at No. 8 Texas (5-1) 9:00 p.m. EST

AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas failed its first test against a Top 1 opponent. UCLA has no intentions of becoming the Longhorns' first ranked victim.

Eighth-ranked Texas looks to claim an impressive victory on Thursday when it hosts No. 9 UCLA in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

The Longhorns met their only ranked opponent in the finals of the Maui Invitational on November 25 and came up a couple inches short of a win.

Then-No. 8 Notre Dame held an 81-74 lead with 31 seconds to play, but Texas quickly sliced that deficit to one after 3-pointers by both A.J. Abrams and Justin Mason.

Zach Hillesland missed a pair of free throws and reigning Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody was fouled on an inbounds pass with 3.5 seconds left, but failed to make either attempts at the line, giving the Longhorns a shot for the win.

Gary Johnson rebounded Harangody's second miss from the stripe and quickly found Abrams. The senior guard turned to race up the court before unleashing a heave from right before halfcourt that hit the front of the rim, dooming Texas to an 81-80 setback.

The Longhorns have bounced back from the loss, posting double-digit victories against Oregon and cross-state rival Rice.

The Bruins have also won each of their last two games following a dismal 55-52 loss to Michigan in the 2K Sports Classic on November 20.

Following a 17-point rout of Southern Illinois on November 21, freshman guard Jrue Holiday scored 20 points as UCLA cruised to an 89-54 triumph over Florida International on Saturday.