AUSTIN, Texas — In a thrilling finish, Tramon Mark secured a dramatic 70-69 win for Texas against No. 13 Texas A&M, sinking a layup with just 3 seconds left on the clock. The Longhorns showed remarkable resilience, overcoming a substantial 22-point deficit in the second half.
Freshman Tre Johnson was a standout performer for Texas (14-6, 3-4 SEC) with an impressive 30 points, 24 of which came in the second half, playing a crucial role in the team’s comeback effort. Johnson’s long-range three-pointer from the wing reduced the deficit to 69-68 with only 46 seconds remaining.
The Longhorns’ defense shone when Julian Larry blocked a layup attempt by Wade Taylor IV of Texas A&M, allowing Texas to regain possession with 22 seconds on the clock. Johnson held the ball momentarily before setting up Mark for the game-winning shot.
With this victory, Texas achieved its second consecutive home win against a ranked team and improved its record to three wins in four games after an initial 0-3 start in the SEC this season.
For Texas A&M (15-5, 4-3), Wade Taylor led the way with 15 points, contributing to an early lead of 51-29 early in the second half.
Notable takeaways from the game include Texas A&M’s surprising three-point shooting; despite being the least effective in the SEC from beyond the arc, they managed to score eight three-pointers in the first half. However, they relinquished a commanding 43-27 advantage in rebounding, which was pivotal in their loss.
Texas managed to win without its top rebounder and second-leading scorer, Arthur Kaluma, who was sidelined due to a left knee issue.
A key moment in the game occurred when Texas A&M held a 64-52 lead with just over six minutes remaining but was hit with a technical foul for having six players on the court. This misstep allowed Johnson to score two free throws, followed by a three-pointer, igniting Texas’s comeback.
A significant statistic to note is that Texas never took the lead until Mark’s buzzer-beater.
Looking ahead, Texas A&M will host Oklahoma on Tuesday, while Texas is set to face Ole Miss on Wednesday, where they will encounter former Longhorns coach Chris Beard, who was dismissed amid controversies during the previous season.
