The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
9-5,0-1SEC
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Mississippi State
9-5,1-0SEC
Men's Basketball falls to Mississippi State in overtime, 101-98
01.03.2026 | Men's Basketball
Swain posts a career-high 34 points and career-best 14 rebounds before fouling out late in regulation during Saturday’s loss
AUSTIN, Texas — Junior forward Dailyn Swain had a career-best performance of 34 points and 14 rebounds, but Texas dropped a 101-98 decision in overtime to Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams on Saturday night in Moody Center. Swain set career highs in points, rebounds, free throws made (12-15) and minutes (37) while tying his career high in field goals made (10-18) before fouling out late in regulation.
Graduate Tramon Mark posted 20 points (8-17 FG), three boards and two steals in a season-best 37 minutes, and sophomore Matas Vokietaitis added 19 points (13-18 FT) in a career-high 34 minutes. Neither team led by more than nine points during the game, and the contest featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes.
Texas lost the rebounding battle for the first time in its opening 14 games by a 47-39 margin. Mississippi State tallied 19 offensive rebounds on the night and turned those into 21 second-chance points. The Bulldogs registered a 25-14 advantage (13-4 on the offensive glass) on the boards in the second half.
Mississippi State took an 11-6 lead after a Jayden Epps jumper at the 15:57 mark, before the Longhorns responded with a 15-7 spurt over the next four minutes to grab a 21-18 advantage following a Jordan Pope three-pointer with 11:48 left. The Bulldogs used a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to build a 27-21 cushion after a Shawn Jones Jr. jumper at the 7:59 mark.
Mississippi State increased the margin to 34-25 following a Ja'Borri McGhee layup with 6:12 remaining, before Texas answered with a 14-4 spurt over the next four minutes to pull to within 39-38 after a Mark dunk at the 2:09 mark. The Bulldogs used a pair of Josh Hubbard free throws with three seconds left to take a 48-43 lead into the break.
The Longhorns rallied to even the score at 52-52 following a Vokietaitis free throw with 15:30 left. Mississippi State went on a 7-0 run over the next 1:09 to build a 59-52 cushion after a Brandon Walker hook shot at the 13:46 mark, before Texas responded with a 7-0 run of its own to tie the contest at 59-59 following a Mark jumper with 12:37 remaining.
A pair of Achor Achor free throws gave the Bulldogs a 65-63 lead at the 9:20 mark, but the Longhorns used a 6-0 spurt to grab a 69-65 advantage after a Swain three-point play with 8:33 left. Mississippi State trimmed the deficit to 80-79 following three free throws from Jayden Epps at the 3:10 mark, before Texas used a Mark three-pointer and a Swain three-point play to build an 86-79 cushion with 2:17 remaining. Swain picked up his fifth foul on the ensuing defensive possession, and the Bulldogs scored the final seven points of regulation to send the game into overtime tied at 86-86.
In the extra session, Mississippi State took a 93-88 advantage after a Jones Jr. dunk with 2:38 left. The Bulldogs extended their cushion to 96-90 following a Hubbard three-point play at the 2:05 mark, before Texas responded with six-straight points to even the score at 96-96 after a Mark steal and layup with 51 seconds left. Hubbard answered with a three-point play to give MSU a 99-96 advantage with 39 seconds remaining, before Mark hit 2-of-4 free throws over the next 30 seconds to pull Texas to within 99-98 with nine seconds left. Hubbard hit two free throws on the ensuing possession to make it 101-98, and the Longhorns could not convert a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Texas is back on the court when it travels to face No. 19/20 Tennessee on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Tip is slated for 8 p.m. Central (9 p.m. Eastern) in Thompson-Boling Arena, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Mississippi State 101, Texas 98
January 3, 2026
Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 10,823
Team Notes
- Texas dropped to 6-4 all-time in the series against Mississippi State. Today's loss snapped a five-game win streak against the Bulldogs.
- UT fell to 1-2 all-time in overtime contests against Mississippi State. This marked the second-straight season that the two teams went to overtime, as the Longhorns claimed an 87-82 OT win in Starkville last season (March 4, 2025).
- The Longhorns dropped to 7-2 this season in home games and 48-14 all-time in games played in Moody Center.
- Texas lost the rebounding battle for the first time this season (47-39).
- The Longhorns surrendered opponent team season highs in points (101), field goal attempts (76), three-point field goal attempts (33), rebounds (47) and blocked shots (6) and tied an opponent team season high in field goals made (34).
- Texas topped the 90-point mark for the seventh time in its first nine home games this year.
- The Longhorns recorded a 21-7 advantage in fast-break points.
- The contest featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes.
- Topped the 20-point mark (20 points) for the second time this season (14 games) and 20th time in his career (150 games)
- Tied his season high in scoring (also had 20 vs. FDU on Nov. 12)
- Set his season high in minutes (37)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the eighth time this year and 82nd time in his career
- Recorded a double-double (34 points, 14 rebounds) for the third time this year (14 games) and sixth time in his career (77 games)
- Set his career high in points, previous: 27 while at Xavier (vs. Illinois on March 21, 2025)
- Set his career high in rebounds, previous: 10 (five times)
- Set his career high in free throws made (12-15)
- Set his career high in minutes (37), previous: 36 (twice)
- Tied his career high in field goals made (10-18)
- Topped the 30-point mark for the first time this year and in his career
- Topped the 20-point mark for the third time this season and fourth time in his career
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 13th time this year and 38th time in his career
- Reached double digits in rebounds for the third time this season and sixth time in his career
- Reached double figures in scoring (19 points) for the 12th time this year (14 games) and 30th time in his career (48 games)
- Converted at least 10 free throws (13-18) for the third time this season
- His 13 free throws made were one shy of his career high (14, twice)
- Set his career high in minutes (34)
