AUSTIN, Texas - Damion James had another double-double for No. 14 Texas, scoring a career-high 29 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to lead the Longhorns to a 67-59 victory over TCU on Wednesday.

Texas forward Damion James, right, moves toward the basket as he eludes the defense by TCU guard Jason Ebie, left, during first half action in their men's college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, in Austin, Texas. James' game-high 29 points helped the Longhorns to a 67-59 victory. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

D.J. Augustin added 20 points for the Longhorns (12-2), who snapped a two-game losing streak.

The game was also the season debut for freshman forward Gary Johnson, the Longhorns' top recruit who missed the first 13 games while doctors monitored an unspecified heart condition last summer. He started, and finished with five points and five rebounds.

James had his seventh double-double in nine games. He also had five blocks and did just about everything to keep Texas from losing its third straight. The Longhorns were without shooting guard A.J. Abrams, who injured his left foot in practice Monday, and Augustin sat on the bench for nine minutes of the first half with foul trouble.

Henry Salter scored 19 points to lead TCU, which hit 12 3-pointers. Salter made five 3s and his last one with 51 seconds left got the Horned Frogs (8-5) within six before Texas put the game away.

Texas was forced to go deep into its bench with Abrams out and Augustin picking up two quick fouls. Walk-on Ian Mooney, who usually only gets in the game at the end of early season routs, played 14 minutes. James carried Texas early, hitting six of his first seven shots for 18 points as Texas led 34-32 at halftime.

The Horned Frogs kept making 3-pointers. Two straight turnovers by Texas and three consecutive 3-pointers by TCU put the Horned Frogs up 41-37 just over a minute into the second half.

James and Augustin then ripped off 11 straight points to give Texas the lead for good. Augustin sparked the run with two dazzling layups and a breakaway bucket for a 48-41 lead.

Texas built it to 10 but couldn't get the big run to put TCU away. The Horned Frogs got within 59-54 on Keion Mitchem's 3-pointer and cut the lead to 3 on Jason Ebie's two free throws with just under four minutes left.

James, who had done just about everything up to that point, made the defensive play of the game when he got a fingertip on a TCU pass and threw the ball back to the court as he nearly tumbled over the scorer's table. Texas quickly got the ball to Augustin for a 3-pointer that put Texas up by six.

After TCU turned the ball over without a shot, Mooney, the walk-on, grabbed a big rebound off a miss by Augustin that gave Texas another 35 seconds as time was winding down.

Johnson, who had been allowed to practice, was cleared to play last week and will wear a heart monitor all season.

Texas badly needs his muscle, both in scoring and defensive rebounding. The Longhorns were outscored in the paint by 22 points in consecutive losses to Michigan State and Wisconsin and coach Rick Barnes has complained they aren't physical enough near the basket.

That changed against the Horned Frogs. Texas outscored TCU in the paint 18-6, won the rebounding 40-31 and held the Horned Frogs 33 percent shooting. TCU could grab only eight offensive boards.

Johnson made his first shot, an easy layup, then missed almost an identical shot when Texas went right back to him the next trip down the court. He picked up his first foul before grabbing his first rebound.