The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
11-5,0-3SEC
Tennessee
15-1,2-1SEC
Men's Basketball falls 74-70 at home to No. 1/1 Tennessee
01.11.2025 | Men's Basketball
Tre Johnson leads the Longhorns in scoring with a game-high 26 points.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Freshman guard Tre Johnson registered a game-high 26 points, but Texas (11-5, 0-3 SEC) dropped a 74-70 decision to No. 1/1 Tennessee (15-1, 2-1 SEC) on Saturday evening in Moody Center. The Longhorns, who became the first program since Missouri in 1997 to host BOTH the No. 2 team in The AP poll (Auburn, lost 87-82 on Tuesday) and the No. 1 team in The AP poll (Tennessee on Saturday) in the same poll week, fell to 0-13 all-time in games against The AP's No. 1 team.
Johnson converted 11-of-17 field goals, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, and added three rebounds in 36 minutes. Junior Jordan Pope recorded 17 points (7-14 FG) in 32 minutes, and graduate Tramon Mark recorded 10 points and two steals in 25 minutes. The back-and-forth contest featured 12 ties and six lead changes, and neither team led by more than seven points.
A pair of Jayson Kent free throws gave the Longhorns an 11-8 advantage at the 11:56 mark. The Volunteers answered with a 9-0 spurt over the next three minutes to take a 17-11 lead following a Jordan Gainey three-pointer with 8:51 left.
Texas responded with a 13-2 run over the next two-and-a-half minutes to grab a 24-19 cushion after a Mark three-pointer at the 6:15 mark. Tennessee used a 14-4 spur over the next five-plus minutes to build a 33-28 advantage following a Zakai Zeigler three-pointer with 37 seconds left, before Johnson knocked down a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to pull the Longhorns to within 33-31 at the break.
The second half alone included seven ties and a pair of lead changes. Texas took a 54-49 advantage following a pair of Julian Larry free throws at the 9:22 mark. After a pair of Arthur Kaluma free throws gave the Longhorns a 56-52 lead with 7:31 left, the Volunteers went on a 14-4 spurt over the next five minutes to build a 66-60 cushion following a Gainey three-pointer at the 2:41 mark. A Johnson jumper and a Pope free throw pulled Texas to within 66-63 with 1:30 remaining, but that was as close as the Longhorns would get the rest of the way.
Texas returns to action when it travels to face Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan 15. Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m. Central at Noble Center, and the contest will be televised nationally by SEC Network.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#1/1 Tennessee 74, Texas 70
January 11, 2025
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,195
Team Notes
- The Longhorns played The AP No. 1 team for the 13th time in program history (0-13 all-time record)
- Texas faced No. 2 Auburn (L, 87-82) and No. 1 Tennessee (L, 74-70) in consecutive home games this week. This marked the first time in program history that the Longhorns have faced the No. 1 AND No. 2 teams in The AP poll in consecutive contests.
- This marked just the sixth time in the last 30 seasons that a team has faced The AP No. 1 AND AP No. 2 team in a single calendar week (courtesy ESPN research). Texas also is the first team to HOST The AP No. 1 AND No. 2 teams in the same poll week since Missouri in 1997.
- The Longhorns dropped to 38-8 all-time in Moody Center history, including an 8-3 mark this season.
- Texas fell to 4-3 all-time against AP Top 10 foes and 7-5 against AP Top 25 opponents in Moody Center.
- This marked the fourth consecutive season that Texas and Tennessee had met on the hardcourt. The Volunteers hold a 6-4 advantage in the all-time series following today's contest.
- The Longhorns committed a team season-low five turnovers and registered a 21-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
- Texas posted a 14-5 advantage in fast-break points during the contest.
- The game featured 12 ties and six lead changes. The largest lead in the game by either team was seven points.
- Tied his career high in field goals made (11-17)
- Topped the 20-point mark (game-high 26 points) for the fifth time in his career (14 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 13th time in his career
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the sixth time this season (12 games) and 64th time in his career (119 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (17 points) for the 10th time this season (16 games) and 64th time in his career (80 games)
- All of his team-high seven rebounds came off the offensive glass
