Marcus Spears Jr Leads Texas to 109-59 Win Over Chicago State

marcus spears jr shines in Texas’ season‑opening win

Texas began its 2026‑27 men’s basketball campaign with a commanding 109‑59 victory over Chicago State. Freshman forward marcus spears jr contributed 11 points, pulled down five rebounds and blocked four shots, underscoring his status as the team’s most heralded newcomer.

Chicago State vs Texas: a lopsided result

The matchup, often referenced as "chicago state vs texas," highlighted a stark disparity in scoring. Chicago State’s leading scorers, Will Lovings‑Watts (13) and Mike Price (12), could not match Texas’ offensive efficiency, which shot 62.5 percent from the field and hit half of its three‑point attempts.

Texas basketball’s explosive start

Beyond marcus spears jr, the Longhorns were propelled by a 22‑point performance from 7‑foot center Matas Vokietaitis, who went perfect from the floor (9‑for‑9). Point guard Isaiah Johnson added 18 points, while freshman Joe Sterling chipped in 14, including four of the team’s 13 triples. The win continues Texas’ tradition of strong starts in texas basketball under coach Sean Miller.

Texas entered the game with eleven new players on the roster, compensating for the absence of guard Mikey Lewis, who is recovering from foot surgery and is expected back by mid‑December. Freshman guards Austin Goosby and Bo Ogden each made a memorable debut by sinking a three‑pointer on their first career shot.

The Longhorns will host Gardner‑Webb on Thursday, while Chicago State travels to Incarnate Word later in the week. Both programs look to build on the early-season lessons as the college basketball calendar progresses.

Sources: ESPN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated.