The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
11-4,0-2SEC
Auburn
14-1,2-0SEC
Men's Basketball falls short against No. 2/2 Auburn, 87-82
01.08.2025 | Men's Basketball
Kaluma records a collegiate career-high 34 points to pace the Longhorns on Tuesday night.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Senior forward Arthur Kaluma registered a collegiate career-high 34 points, but Texas (11-4, 0-2 SEC) dropped an 87-82 decision to No. 2/2 Auburn (14-1, 2-0 SEC) on Tuesday night at Moody Center. The game marked the first official Southeastern Conference home game for the Longhorns, and it also was the first meeting between the two schools since the 1955-56 season.
Kaluma converted a career-high 12-of-16 field goals, including a career-best 5-of-6 from three-point range, and 5-of-7 free throws while adding eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 38 minutes. Junior Jordan Pope recorded 19 points while hitting a career-best 11-of-11 free throws and added three steals in 28 minutes. Freshman Tre Johnson tallied 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 38 minutes.
After a Kaluma jumper tied the score at 8-8 at the 16:10 mark, the Tigers went on a 12-2 spurt over the next six minutes to grab a 20-10 advantage following a Tahaad Pettiford three-pointer with 10:18 remaining. Auburn extended its lead to 25-13 after a Miles Kelly three-pointer at the 7:39 mark, before the Longhorns used a 10-3 run over the next four minutes to trim the margin to 28-23 following a Kadin Shedrick tip-in with 3:41 left. After a pair of Kaluma free throws cut the deficit to 30-25 at the 2:06 mark, the Tigers closed the half on a 9-2 spurt to take a 39-27 advantage into the break.
Auburn increased its cushion to as much as 21 points (61-40) following a Jahki Howard jumper with 12:57 remaining. The Longhorns responded with an impressive 15-3 run over the next five minutes to trim the margin to 64-55 after a pair of Julian Larry free throws at the 8:03 mark. The Tigers answered with a 9-1 spurt over the next three minutes to increase their advantage to 73-56 following a pair of Chad Baker-Mazara free with 5:09 left.
After another pair of Baker-Mazare free throws gave Auburn a 75-58 cushion at the 4:44 mark, Texas went on a 13-3 run over the next two-plus minutes to climb to within 78-71 following a three-point play by Pope with 1:59 remaining. A Johni Broome basket increased Auburn's lead to 81-71 at the 1:28 mark, before the Longhorns used a 9-2 spurt in a 55-second span to cut the deficit to 83-80 after a pair of Pope free throws with 33 seconds left. A pair of Tramon Mark free throws trimmed the lead to 85-82 with 11 seconds left, but Pettiford sealed the game for the Tigers with a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining.
The Longhorns are back in action when they host No. 1/1 Tennessee on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tip is scheduled for 5 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the contest will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#2/2 Auburn 87, Texas 82
January 7, 2025
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,516
Team Notes
- Tuesday night's contest marked the first official Southeastern Conference HOME game for the Longhorns. Texas had spent the previous 28 seasons (1996-97 through 2023-24) in the Big 12 Conference.
- Tuesday's game marked just the third all-time meeting between Texas and Auburn on the hardcourt and first since the 1955-56 season. The Tigers hold a 2-1 lead in the all-time series after Tuesday's contest.
- The Longhorns dropped to 38-7 all-time in Moody Center history, including an 8-2 mark this season.
- Texas fell to 4-2 all-time against AP Top 10 foes and 7-4 against AP Top 25 opponents in Moody Center.
- The Longhorns trailed by 21 points (61-40) with 12:57 remaining before closing the game on a 42-26 run.
- Texas tallied 55 points in the second half while converting 51.6-percent (16-31) from the floor, including a 5-of-10 (.500) mark from three-point range, and 18-of-22 (.818) free throws.
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the 12th time in his career (13 games)
- Set his collegiate career high in scoring (34 points), previous: 28 vs. BYU on Feb. 24, 2024 (while playing for K-State)
- Set his career high in field goals made (12-16) and three-point field goals made (5-6)
- Reached the 30-point mark for the first time this year (15 games) and in his career (116 games)
- Topped the 20-point mark for the second time this year and 12th time in his career
- Reached double digits in scoring for the 13th time this year and 81st time in his career
- Set his collegiate career high in free throws made (11-11), previous: 10, twice
- Reached double figures in scoring (19 points) for the ninth time this season (15 games) and 63rd time in his career (79 games)
- In 12:57 of action in the second half, he registered 17 points (4-8 FG, 9-9 FT)
- Recorded two blocked shots in 31 minutes
- Has registered multiple blocks in 11 of his first 15 contests
