Texas basketball is a rollercoaster right now. One night you’re taking down a top-ten Vanderbilt squad, and the next, you’re watching a double-digit lead evaporate against your biggest rival. If you've been refreshing the Texas Longhorns men's basketball scores this week, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The January 17th loss to Texas A&M at the Moody Center was more than just a tally in the "L" column; it was a physical, grinding reminder of how thin the margin for error is in the SEC.
Sean Miller’s first year in Austin was always going to be a transition. But nobody expected the emotional whiplash of the last seven days.
That Texas A&M Game: What Just Happened?
The final score was 74-70. On paper, it looks like a close, competitive game. In reality, it was a tale of two halves that showed both the potential and the glaring holes in this Longhorns roster. Texas went into the locker room at halftime tied 29-29, but the momentum felt like it was shifting.
Then the second half happened. Rylan Griffen—who didn't score a single point in the first half—decided to catch fire. He put up 17 points in the final 20 minutes. Texas found themselves down by 10 with five minutes left.
The comeback attempt was there. Honestly, it almost worked. Chendall Weaver hit a layup with seven seconds left to cut the lead to three. But the Aggies held on at the free-throw line. It was A&M’s first win in Austin since 2002. That’s a twenty-four-year streak snapped in the middle of a heated rivalry.
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Breaking Down the Box Score
Looking at the individual numbers tells a story of a team still searching for a consistent "alpha" when things get tight.
- Jordan Pope: 17 points (5-12 FG). He’s been the engine, but he needed more help on the perimeter.
- Dailyn Swain: 17 points and 6 rebounds. Swain is proving to be one of the best transfer portal pickups for Miller.
- Matas Vokietaitis: 14 points and 9 rebounds. The big man fought hard, but the Aggies' Rashaun Agee (17 pts, 11 reb) largely won the battle in the paint.
The most frustrating stat? Bench points. Texas A&M’s bench outscored the Longhorns 20-6. You can’t win high-level SEC games when your depth doesn't show up.
The Vanderbilt High and the SEC Grind
Just three days before the A&M debacle, Texas looked like a Final Four contender. They absolutely dismantled No. 10 Vanderbilt 80-64. In that game, Matas Vokietaitis was a monster, putting up 22 points and dominating the glass. Tramon Mark added 21.
That’s the "kinda" weird thing about this team. They have the talent to blow out a top-ten team, yet they struggle with the consistency required to stack wins.
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Currently, the Longhorns sit at 11-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play. It’s not where fans wanted to be in mid-January, but it’s a reflection of a brutal schedule. They’ve already faced Duke, UConn, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Recent Scores at a Glance
- Jan 17: Texas 70, Texas A&M 74 (Loss)
- Jan 14: Texas 80, Vanderbilt 64 (Win)
- Jan 10: Texas 92, Alabama 88 (Win)
- Jan 6: Texas 71, Tennessee 85 (Loss)
- Jan 3: Texas 98, Mississippi State 101 (OT Loss)
That Alabama win in Tuscaloosa was probably the peak of the season so far. Jordan Pope dropped 28 points, and it felt like the Longhorns had finally arrived. But as we saw against the Aggies, staying at that level is the real challenge.
Looking Ahead: Can They Turn It Around?
The road doesn't get any easier. Next up is a trip to Lexington to face Kentucky on January 21st. Rupp Arena is never a fun place to play when you're coming off a loss.
If you're tracking the Texas Longhorns men's basketball scores to see if they'll make the NCAA Tournament, the "NET" rankings and "Quadrant 1" wins are everything. Right now, the wins over Vanderbilt and Alabama are carrying their resume. But they need to stop the bleeding at home. The Moody Center needs to become a fortress again.
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Sean Miller is a coach who builds through discipline and defensive rotations. Right now, the defense is allowing 72.6 points per game, which ranks in the bottom half of the SEC. To move up the standings, that number has to drop.
What to Watch for in the Next 3 Games
- Rotation Changes: Will Miller lean more on the starters or try to find a spark from the bench after the A&M game?
- Turnover Margin: Texas is currently averaging about 10 turnovers a game. That’s actually decent, but it’s the timing of the turnovers that killed them against the Aggies.
- Free Throw Efficiency: In close games, the Horns are leaving points at the line. Vokietaitis is a force, but teams are starting to hack him intentionally.
Texas has the pieces. Jordan Pope is a legitimate star. Dailyn Swain is a versatile wing that every pro scout is watching. But they need to figure out how to close.
Basically, the season is at a crossroads. A win in Lexington would erase the sting of the A&M loss. A loss puts them at 2-4 in the SEC and starts the "bubble" talk earlier than anyone in Austin wants.
If you’re planning to follow the rest of the season, pay close attention to the rebounding totals. When Texas wins the glass, they usually win the game. When they get out-muscled, like they did in the second half against the Aggies, the scoreline usually turns ugly.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Monitor the NET Rankings: Following the Kentucky game, check where Texas sits. They need to stay in the top 40 to feel safe for March.
- Focus on the Bench: Keep an eye on players like Chendall Weaver. His energy is infectious, and Texas needs his scoring to supplement the "Big Three" of Pope, Mark, and Vokietaitis.
- Home vs. Away: Texas has some tough road trips coming up (Auburn, Oklahoma). They must split those road games to stay relevant in the SEC race.
The talent is there. The coaching is there. Now, the consistency just has to show up.