Texas Heats Up in Second Half, Rolls to Fourth Straight SEC Win Over Missouri
For the first time since the 2020-21 season, Texas basketball has rattled off four straight wins in conference play - and this one might’ve been the most complete performance yet. The Longhorns (16-9, 7-5 SEC) handled Missouri (17-8, 7-5 SEC) on the road Saturday night, 85-68, behind a second-half surge led by Dailyn Swain.
Swain, who had just seven points in Texas’ last outing against Ole Miss, bounced back in a big way. He poured in 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, with 18 of those coming after halftime. It was a statement performance from the sophomore swingman, who found his rhythm when Texas needed it most.
And he wasn’t alone. Jordan Pope and Matas Vokietaitis also hit double figures, giving the Longhorns a balanced scoring attack that wore down the Tigers over 40 minutes. On the other side, Missouri leaned heavily on forward Mark Mitchell, who logged 39 minutes and led the Tigers with 16 points on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting night.
Early Struggles, Late Surge
Texas came out cold, hitting just 3-of-11 from the field early and trailing 11-7 at the under-16 timeout. Missouri, meanwhile, opened 5-of-6 and looked comfortable at home. But despite shooting just 6-of-24 over the first 12 minutes, Texas kept it close, thanks in part to some timely defense and second-chance opportunities.
With starting forward Lassina Traore sidelined due to a knee injury suffered against South Carolina, head coach Rodney Terry turned to freshman Nic Codie off the bench. Codie answered the call, grabbing boards and converting a three-point play - his first made field goal since the Tennessee game on January 6.
By halftime, the Longhorns had found some footing. They closed the half on a strong note, shooting 37% from the field after that rocky start and taking a 33-31 lead into the break.
Vokietaitis had 10 points at the half, while Mitchell led all scorers with 12. Texas held a slim 19-18 edge on the glass and committed just three turnovers through 20 minutes - a key factor in keeping the game within reach.
Second Half: Texas Turns It On
Out of the locker room, the Longhorns wasted no time seizing control. They opened the second half with renewed energy, and Swain went to work. Whether it was attacking off the dribble or spotting up from distance, he made Missouri pay on nearly every possession.
At the under-16 timeout, Texas still held a narrow 41-39 lead, but the momentum was clearly shifting. A pair of free throws from Pope pushed the lead to five, and from there, the Longhorns began to stretch it out. Missouri, meanwhile, went ice cold - hitting just 3-of-10 to start the half and enduring a 3-minute scoring drought that allowed Texas to go on a 6-0 run and build a 57-47 cushion.
The rhythm was briefly interrupted by a series of reviews and stoppages, but Texas didn’t lose its edge. By the under-8 timeout, the Longhorns led 67-55, and they kept their foot on the gas.
Texas hit six of its last seven shots down the stretch, pushing the lead to 73-60 with just under five minutes remaining - their largest of the night. Missouri had no answer, and by the final media timeout, the Longhorns were still in control, up 77-66.
What’s Next
With the win, Texas moves into a tie with Missouri at 7-5 in SEC play and continues to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Longhorns return home on February 17 to host LSU (14-10, 2-9 SEC) at Moody Center.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
If Swain and company can keep this level of play going - especially with Traore sidelined - Texas could be peaking at just the right time.