The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
11-3,0-1SEC
Texas A&M
12-2,1-0SEC
Men's Basketball falls 80-60 at No. 13/12 Texas A&M
01.04.2025 | Men's Basketball
Mark posts a team-high 14 points to pace four Longhorns in double-figure scoring on Saturday night.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Graduate guard Tramon Mark posted a team-high 14 points, but Texas (11-3, 0-1 SEC) dropped an 80-60 decision at No. 13/12 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0 SEC) on Saturday night at Reed Arena. The contest marked the first official Southeastern Conference game for the Longhorns, and it also was the first on-campus meeting between the two rivals since a 70-68 Texas victory in College Station on Feb. 6, 2012.
Mark converted 4-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-4 threes, and 4-of-4 free throws and added two assists in 22 minutes. Senior Arthur Kaluma recorded 13 points (4-8 FG, 4-4 FT) and seven rebounds in 31 minutes, and junior Jordan Pope tallied 12 points (3-6 threes) in 27 minutes. Freshman Tre Johnson registered 11 points (7-7 FT), two assists and a career-high two blocked shots in 33 minutes, while graduate Kadin Shedrick grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in 27 minutes.
The contest was tied at 37-37 at halftime, and the Longhorns were within five points (57-52) before a late run by the Aggies over the final eight minutes sealed their victory.
Texas A&M jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a Solomon Washington layup at the 18:05 mark, before the Longhorns answered with a 10-2 spurt over the next three-and-a-half minutes to grab a 10-6 advantage following a Johnson jumper with 14:38 left. The Aggies used a 5-0 run over the next minute to take an 11-10 lead after a pair of Pharrel Payne free throws at the 13:30 mark. Texas responded with an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to build a 21-13 advantage following a Mark three-pointer with 10:41 remaining.
Texas A&M used a 10-3 spurt over the next two-and-a-half minutes to trim the margin to 24-23 after a pair of Washington free throws at the 8:00 mark. A Jayson Kent three-pointer extended the Texas cushion to 32-26 with 6:54 left, but the Aggies scored 10 straight points over the next four minutes minutes to take a 36-32 advantage following an Andersson Garcia layup at the 2:43 mark. The Longhorns closed the half with a 5-1 run to even the score at 37-37 at the break.
The Aggies opened the second half with a 15-2 run and built a 52-39 cushion following a pair of Manny Obaseki free throws at the 14:38 mark. Texas A&M held a 56-43 lead after a Zhuric Phelps layup with 11:42 remaining, before Texas went on a 9-1 spurt over the next four minutes to trim the deficit to 57-52 after a pair of Mark free throws at the 7:48 mark.
Texas A&M responded with a 6-0 run over the next minute-and-a-half to increase its cushion to 63-52 following a Payne layup with 6:06 left. A Pope three-pointer cut the deficit to 63-55 at the 5:47 mark, but that was as close as the Longhorns could get for the remainder of the contest.
Texas returns to action when it hosts No. 2/2 Auburn on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the contest will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#13/12 Texas A&M 80, Texas 60
January 4, 2025
Reed Arena (College Station, Texas)
Attendance: 12,236
Team Notes
- Saturday night's contest marked the first official Southeastern Conference game for the Longhorns. Texas had spent the previous 28 seasons (1996-97 through 2023-24) in the Big 12 Conference.
- This marked the first on-campus meeting between the two rivals since Feb. 6, 2012, when Texas claimed a 70-68 victory in College Station.
- Texas dropped to 138-87 in the all-time series against the Aggies.
- Despite tonight's loss, the Longhorns have won six of the last eight and 43 of the last 54 meetings between the two schools since the start of the 1989-90 season.
- Texas converted 85.0-percent (17-20) from the free throw line on the night.
- The Longhorns posted a 16-5 advantage in fast-break points during the loss, including a 12-0 edge in the first half.
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the 11th time in his career (12 games)
- Set his career high in blocked shots (2)
- Reached double digits in scoring (13 points) for the 12th time this year (14 games) and 80th time in his career (115 games)
- Reached double digits in scoring (team-high 14 points) for the fifth time this year (10 games) and 63rd time in his career (117 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the eighth time this season (14 games) and 62nd time in his career (78 games)
- Reached double digits in rebounds (10) for the second time this year (14 games) and seventh time in his career (122 games)
