STARKVILLE, Miss. — In an intense battle, Texas emerged victorious over No. 25 Mississippi State, clinching an 87-82 overtime win on Tuesday night with a standout performance from Tramon Mark, who tallied 24 points, and Tre Johnson, who added 23.
The game was decided in the final moments of overtime when Mark and Arthur Kaluma stepped up to sink crucial free throws in the last 21 seconds, sealing the victory for the Longhorns. The duo of Mark and Johnson was lethal from beyond the arc, together hitting 10 of 15 three-point attempts, boosting Texas’ record to 17-13 overall and 6-11 in the Southeastern Conference.
For the Bulldogs, Josh Hubbard led Mississippi State’s efforts with all of his 16 points scored in the second half. RJ Melendez contributed 15 points, while KeShawn Murphy finished with 13. Mississippi State demonstrated resilience by closing the second half on an impressive 11-2 run, tying the game with just nine seconds left through Riley Kugel’s crucial layup. However, Mark’s attempt at a deep three for Texas missed at the regulation buzzer, leading the game to overtime.
During the first half, Texas ended strong with an 11-0 run, securing a 37-32 advantage at halftime. The Longhorns shot 41% from the field, though their long-range game saw them making only three out of twelve attempts. In contrast, Mississippi State made 5 of its 13 three-point attempts but struggled with ball control, leading to eight turnovers in the first twenty minutes and twelve overall.
Insights from the game reveal that Texas successfully halted a losing streak of three games, bolstering their aspirations for the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Mississippi State continues to strive for a .500 finish or better in the SEC, a feat yet to be achieved under coach Chris Jans.
A pivotal moment unfolded when Kaluma’s composed free throws with 7.6 seconds remaining in overtime extended Texas’s lead to 87-82, ensuring their triumph. Looking ahead, the Longhorns are set to host Oklahoma on Saturday, while Mississippi State faces a road challenge against Arkansas the same day.
