Brooklyn, NY — Tre Johnson delivered a standout performance with 17 points, leading Texas to a hard-fought 67-58 victory over Saint Joseph’s in the UKG Legends Classic championship game Friday night at the Barclays Center.
Johnson, the Longhorns’ scoring leader, shot 7-of-18 from the field, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and converted both his free throws to guide Texas (5-1) to the win.
Arthur Kaluma contributed a versatile effort with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. Off the bench, Julian Larry knocked down both of his 3-point attempts, adding 12 points to the Longhorns’ tally. Kadin Shedrick also made his presence felt, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.
On the opposing side, Rasheer Fleming shone for Saint Joseph’s (4-2), recording 16 points and a career-best 20 rebounds. Xzayvier Brown chipped in with 15 points to bolster the Hawks’ offense.
The first half was tightly contested, with Johnson and Kaluma combining for 18 points to give Texas a narrow 32-30 edge at the break.
Saint Joseph’s seized its first lead of the second half at 39-38 on a 3-pointer by Brown with 12:50 remaining. The Hawks managed to pull ahead on multiple possessions, but Texas responded each time to keep the game close.
A highlight sequence came late in the game when Fleming’s putback dunk gave the Hawks a 52-51 advantage with 5:29 left. However, Texas answered with an 8-0 run fueled by back-to-back putback dunks from Shedrick, followed by a pair of free throws and a layup from Johnson. This decisive stretch helped the Longhorns maintain control down the stretch.
With this victory, Texas claimed its first regular-season tournament title since winning the Maui Invitational in 2020, which was held in Asheville, North Carolina, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking ahead, the Longhorns will host Delaware State on Friday, while Saint Joseph’s returns home to face Coppin State on Tuesday.
