The Texas Longhorns just reminded everyone why you can never count them out-especially not in a rivalry game. Down 14 in the first half, Texas stormed back with a second-half shooting clinic, hitting 75% from the field after halftime to knock off the Oklahoma Sooners, 79-69, and extend their winning streak at Lloyd Noble Center to seven games.
This one had all the makings of a classic Red River showdown: early adversity, a second-half surge, and a closing stretch that showed poise, depth, and a little bit of swagger.
Dailyn Swain: Closer Mode Activated
Junior wing Dailyn Swain took over when it mattered most, pouring in 11 of his game-high 20 points in the final 10 minutes. His late-game burst powered a 9-2 run that sealed the win and showcased his ability to create and finish in crunch time. Whether it was a hesitation drive or a tough finish through contact, Swain looked like the guy you want with the ball in his hands when the game tightens.
Balanced Attack, Big-Time Buckets
Swain wasn’t doing it alone. Four other Longhorns hit double figures, led by junior forward Cam Heide, who was lights out.
Heide went 5-of-6 from the field, including three huge threes-each one seemingly arriving at a moment when Texas needed a spark. His ability to stretch the floor and finish at the rim gave the Sooners fits all night.
And then there was Simeon Wilcher. The junior guard came off the bench and delivered his first double-digit scoring game since the Tennessee loss, dropping 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
For a guy who had scored just nine total points in the previous six games-and had back-to-back scoreless outings-this was a timely bounce-back. Wilcher’s confidence grew as the game wore on, and his corner three with just over five minutes left was a momentum-shifter.
Senior guard Chendall Weaver chipped in eight points off the bench, giving Texas a rare edge in bench scoring. Combine that with a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint, and it’s clear the Longhorns were winning the physical battles inside.
Early Trouble, Late Turnaround
The first half was rocky. Texas opened the game cold-1-of-5 shooting with two turnovers-and quickly found themselves in a 13-4 hole.
Oklahoma came out firing, hitting 5-of-7 shots including three from deep, and strung together an 8-0 run in under two minutes. It got worse before it got better.
Texas trailed 23-9 after a 1-of-9 stretch from the floor.
But credit to the Longhorns for weathering the storm. Weaver’s energy off the bench sparked a mini-run-two push shots and a three-while sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis added a layup off a short roll. Suddenly, Texas was hitting 4-of-5 and cutting the deficit to single digits.
Still, they went into halftime trailing 33-30, in part because of a couple of costly turnovers and a late Oklahoma three. The Horns were just 2-of-10 from deep in the first half, but the signs of life were there.
Second Half Surge
The second half opened with both teams trading threes, and Heide stayed hot with another triple off a slick skip pass from Vokietaitis. The Purdue transfer added a strong finish at the rim, showing he’s more than just a spot-up shooter.
Even as Texas opened the half 4-of-5, they couldn’t quite grab the lead-until Swain knocked down two free throws. Oklahoma immediately answered with a corner three, but the Longhorns were starting to find their rhythm.
Midway through the half, a flagrant foul on Weaver gave Oklahoma a chance to pull away, but the Sooners couldn’t fully capitalize. Then came a pivotal sequence: Swain banked in a tough shot and drew a questionable block call, followed by a lucky bounce that turned into a three for Oklahoma. But Texas never flinched.
Swain found Heide for a clean look from deep, and Wilcher added a bank shot to trim the deficit to one. That forced a timeout from Sooners coach Porter Moser, who was watching momentum slip away fast.
Out of the break, Swain kept attacking. He capped a 7-0 run with a driving dunk, then set up Wilcher for a corner three that gave Texas the lead again. A hesitation move and lefty finish by Swain, followed by a clean look for Jordan Pope off a Lassina Traore screen, gave Texas its biggest lead of the night-five points-and forced another Oklahoma timeout.
Closing Time
Texas closed like a veteran team. Pope drilled a three while getting fouled, and although he missed the free throw, the damage was done. On the other end, Wilcher locked in defensively, forcing back-to-back airballs from Oklahoma’s Nijel Pack.
Swain added a short jumper in the paint to stretch the lead to seven with 1:32 to go. Even with a lane violation wiping away a made free throw by Wilcher, the Longhorns weren’t rattled. Oklahoma missed a pair of threes during a three-minute scoring drought, and Swain iced it at the line.
This wasn’t just a rivalry win-it was a statement. Texas picked up a critical Quad 1 victory and their first road win in three weeks. More importantly, they showed resilience, depth, and the kind of closing ability that can carry a team through the grind of conference play.
If this second-half version of the Longhorns shows up consistently, they’re going to be a problem.