NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Texas Longhorns secured a thrilling victory over the 14th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies in a double-overtime match, finalizing a 94-88 win in their first outing at the Southeastern Conference Tournament. This victory propels them into the quarterfinals. Tre Johnson delivered the critical 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in the second overtime, ensuring Texas (19-14) advanced as the SEC’s No. 13 seed. They now prepare to face Tennessee, ranked 4th in the tournament and 8th nationally, on Friday.
Johnson completed the game with 20 points, while teammates Tramon Mark contributed 15 points, Kadin Shedrick added 14, and Jordan Pope chipped in with 13. The intense match saw a dramatic twist as Mark’s last-second shot hit the rim just before regulation time expired, leading to the first overtime period. Shedrick’s pivotal dunk with under five seconds remaining in the first overtime allowed Texas to force a second additional period.
For the Aggies, Wade Taylor IV was outstanding, scoring 29 points and exceptionally executing 17 of 18 free throws, solidifying his position as the SEC’s all-time tournament scoring leader. Manny Obaseki scored 17 points before fouling out, while Aderss Garcia and Henry Coleman III contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively. Coleman also managed to grab 13 boards.
The Longhorns arrived in Nashville seeking to bolster their chances for an NCAA Tournament invite, having won just once in their last five games. This victory not only improves their tournament prospects but also aids Coach Rodney Terry’s job security as they aim for consistency by winning two of their last three contests. Conversely, Texas A&M’s regular SEC tournament success is notable, with the Aggies boasting a 7-3 record over the past trio of tournaments and having reached multiple finals.
A crucial turning point came when Shedrick’s last-moment dunk in the first overtime secured the extension of the game. In the second overtime, the Aggies faltered, missing seven of their last eight shot attempts. Texas must now look ahead to a rematch after previously losing to Tennessee by four points in January, while Texas A&M awaits their fate for an NCAA Tournament spot.
