Texas marked its SEC Tournament debut with a hard-fought 79-72 victory over Vanderbilt in the first round on Wednesday night. The 13th-seeded Longhorns built a commanding lead early and withstood a late rally from the No. 12 seed Commodores to secure the win.
Tramon Mark and Tre Johnson led Texas (18-14) with 19 points each, while Jordan Pope contributed 14 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Arthur Kaluma added 11 points, all coming in the first half. The Longhorns’ efficiency at the charity stripe played a crucial role, as they shot 25-for-34 from the line, with Mark hitting 9-of-11.
With the victory, Texas advances to face No. 5 seed Texas A&M in the second round on Thursday.
Texas took control early, using a 12-0 run to seize momentum. Kaluma fueled a dominant first half with five points in a 12-3 surge that pushed the Longhorns ahead 39-22. Texas’ interior presence was evident, scoring 22 points in the paint and shooting 48% from the field in the opening period.
At halftime, Texas held a comfortable 41-26 lead, putting Vanderbilt (20-12) on the back foot heading into the final 20 minutes.
The Longhorns extended their lead back to 15 points with just over four minutes remaining, seemingly in control. However, Vanderbilt mounted a fierce comeback attempt, fueled by Tyler Nickel’s free throws and Devin McGlockton’s layup, trimming the deficit to 70-59.
Texas struggled offensively during this stretch, missing a key one-and-one opportunity and two three-point attempts. That allowed Vanderbilt to close within 72-65 with 1:34 remaining. The Commodores had multiple chances to get even closer, cutting the deficit to seven points three more times in the final minute.
Despite the pressure, Texas sealed the game at the free-throw line, converting seven of eight attempts down the stretch.
With their first-ever SEC Tournament win secured, Texas now prepares for a second-round showdown against in-state rival Texas A&M. The Longhorns will need to build on their strong first-half play while tightening up late-game execution if they hope to extend their stay in Nashville.
For Vanderbilt, the loss marks the end of their SEC Tournament journey, despite a valiant comeback effort. The Commodores will now await their postseason fate, potentially eyeing an NIT berth.
Texas and Texas A&M will tip off Thursday as the Longhorns look to continue their tournament run.
Key Performances
• Texas:
• Tramon Mark – 19 points (9-for-11 FT)
• Tre Johnson – 19 points
• Jordan Pope – 14 points (5-for-5 FT)
• Arthur Kaluma – 11 points (all in first half)
• Vanderbilt:
• Jason Edwards – 20 points
• Tyler Nickel – 14 points
• Chris Manon – 12 points
• Devin McGlockton – 10 points, 10 rebounds
