AUSTIN, Texas -- The four freshmen for Texas comprised a recruiting class rated among the top 10 in the nation. But for the second straight game, a senior took over when the Longhorns needed a boost.

Guard Kendal Yancy scored nine points during a span of five minutes, helping break open a close game as the No. 23 Longhorns posted an 80-59 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Monday night.

Yancy, who finished with 12 points, led Texas (2-0) with 19 during a 78-73 win over Incarnate Word on Friday.

Texas led Louisiana-Monroe by only six with 13 minutes remaining before Yancy took over. He made a fast-break basket, a 3-pointer, a follow shot and another fast-break basket to send the Longhorns on their way.

Tevin Mack led Texas with 14 points, converting four 3-pointers.

Freshman guard Andrew Jones added 12 points in the win.

Guard Marvin Jean-Pierre led Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) with 13 points.

Yancy never averaged more than 6.3 points game in his first three seasons at Texas. But he impressed teammates and coaches with his work ethic preparing for his season year.

"Kendal's playing with a lot more energy and confidence than he did last year," said Shaka Smart, the Longhorns' second-year coach. "He has really settled in to the role of being a senior leader, a guy who plays with a great motor trying to make things happen. He's set a really good example for our younger guys all summer long, all preseason long."

Sophomore guards Mack and Kerwin Roach returned to the Texas lineup after missing the opener on Friday while serving a suspension for violation of undisclosed team rules.

Roach could be in line to start at point guard this season. Mack has a chance to start as a wing player.

Neither was in the starting lineup on Monday, but both were helpful when they entered the game. Mack converted both 3-point attempts in the first half, and Roach drove inside for two layups. He finished with 11 points.

Texas could not pull away before halftime, when it led 37-28. The Warhawks hustled for nine offensive rebounds in the half, preventing the Longhorns from initiating their fast break.

In the end, Louisiana-Monroe outrebounded Texas 43-41, grabbing 17 offensive boards, but the Warhawks were outshot 50-30.4 percent.

"We hung in there a little while scoring against them," Louisiana-Monroe coach Keith Richard said. "Their athleticism kind of wore us down in the second half."

As did their size. Texas has two towering freshmen, 6-foot-11 Jarrett Allen and 6-10 James Banks. They blocked two Louisiana-Monroe shots apiece and generally made the Warhawks uncomfortable.

"They forced us out just a step or two farther than we needed to be at times," Richard said. "We won't see that length in our league."

The Longhorns were more satisfied with their defense Monday than they were against Incarnate Word.

"In preparation for this game, coach really emphasized be the aggressors on defense," Jones said. "Be dogs."

NOTES: Texas F Mareik Isom missed his second straight game while recovering from arthroscopic surgery for a bacterial infection in his left ankle. The 6-foot-9 Isom averaged six points, converting nearly 40 percent of his 3-point attempts, last season at Arkansas-Little Rock before transferring to Texas as a graduate senior. His return date has not been set. ... Louisiana-Monroe, picked to finish eighth among 12 schools in the Sun Belt Conference by the league's coaches, appears like it will rely heavily on the 3-point shot. The Warhawks hit 12 of 29 in their opening night win against Centenary but only 8 of 34 against Texas. "We're gonna have to be a shoot-it-and-make-it team," Richard said. ... Texas fell from No. 21 to 23 in the Associated Press poll after beating Incarnate Word 78-73.