Madison Booker had 22 points and five assists to lead No. 5 Texas to an 87-56 victory over UCF on Saturday for its eighth straight win. The Longhorns (26-3, 13-3 Big 12) held the Knights (12-14, 3-13) to four points in the second quarter to take a 21-point lead into the locker room at halftime. UCF shot only 35.3% for the game.
The Longhorns scored seven runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings combined to turn an early deficit into a resounding win. Texas connected on seven of their nine hits in the frames and took advantage of some erratic San Diego pitching. The Toreros walked two and hit two batters in the fifth which led to a pair of runs. For the game, Texas drew seven walks and was hit by pitches four times, giving them 11 free base runners to work with.
Flores' big swing came in the sixth inning and punctuated a 5-run frame that turned a 3-1 Toreros lead into a 6-3 Texas advantage. Flores pummeled a 1-2 pitch that had to cut through wins from an oncoming cold front, and it landed in the brand-new Yeti Yard seating area beyond left field, which led to various beverages being tossed in the air as a celebration.
When the Longhorns and Huskies meet Jan. 1 at Caesars Superdome for the Sugar Bowl, it'll be the sixth time in their storied histories and just the second time in consecutive seasons. Last year, the Huskies beat the Longhorns 27-20 in the Alamo Bowl and that was the first time in more than 20 years the programs faced off.