Texas A&M 74, Texas 70.
If you just wanted the quick answer, there it is. But honestly, if you weren't watching the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown at the Moody Center tonight, you missed a total rollercoaster. The Longhorns came into this one with a ton of momentum after knocking off two ranked opponents in a row, but they just couldn't solve the Aggies' second-half surge.
It's one of those losses that really stings. Why? Because Texas had every chance to steal it late.
Breaking down the scoring
The game was tied 29-29 at the half, which basically tells you how gritty and defensive the first 20 minutes were. Neither team could buy a bucket for long stretches. But then the second half started, and Rylan Griffen happened. The guy didn't score a single point in the first half—not one—and then he comes out and drops 17 in the second.
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Texas struggled to keep up when A&M went on a 15-5 run right out of the gate after the break.
The final score of the Texas Longhorns game reflects a desperate late-game push that almost worked. With about three minutes left, the Aggies were up 73-62. It felt over. The crowd was getting quiet. Then, Texas went on an 8-0 run. Chendall Weaver hit a layup with seven seconds left to make it 73-70. For a split second, it felt like another Austin miracle was brewing.
Then Jacari Lane went to the line. He hit one of two free throws, which was just enough to ice it.
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Key individual performances
- Jordan Pope: 17 points (did his best to carry the offense late).
- Dailyn Swain: 17 points and some massive dunks that kept the energy alive.
- Matas Vokietaitis: 14 points and 9 boards. He was a beast on the glass, as usual.
- Tramon Mark: 13 points, but he struggled a bit with his efficiency tonight.
On the other side, Rashaun Agee was a problem. He finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for A&M. Texas usually wins the rebounding battle—they’ve done it in 16 of their 18 games this year—but they couldn't turn those extra possessions into enough points tonight.
What this means for the Longhorns
Texas is now 11-7 overall and 2-3 in the SEC. It’s a tough spot to be in, especially with the schedule not getting any easier. They had won 11 straight home games against the Aggies before tonight. That streak is gone.
It’s frustrating because the Longhorns had been playing such high-level basketball lately. The wins over Alabama and Vanderbilt felt like a turning point, but tonight showed there are still some major consistency issues. The bench production was a huge factor, too. A&M’s bench outscored Texas 20-6. You just can’t win big conference games when your depth doesn't show up.
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Looking ahead: What's next?
There is zero time to pout about this one. Texas has to travel to Lexington to play Kentucky on Wednesday, January 21. That’s at 6:00 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
If you're wondering what's the score of the Texas Longhorns game usually going to look like in the coming weeks, expect more of these tight, high-possession battles. The SEC is a gauntlet this year. Every night is a fight.
Next Steps for Longhorn Fans:
- Watch the Kentucky game: Wednesday night is a massive "get right" opportunity, though winning at Rupp Arena is a tall order.
- Monitor the injury report: Keep an eye on how the rotation shifts after the bench struggled so much tonight.
- Check the standings: With a 2-3 conference record, Texas is currently sitting in the middle of the pack and needs a win to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
The rematch against the Aggies is set for February 28 in College Station. Mark your calendars for that one, because it's going to be loud.