Wins in the Southeastern Conference are at a premium, and the Longhorns need as many of them as possible headed down the stretch. With a month of basketball left in the regular season, Texas likely sits on the NCAA Tournament bubble at 15-9 overall and 4-7 in conference play. Following Saturday’s 86-78 loss in Nashville to Vanderbilt, Rodney Terry’s team carries a two-game losing streak. Things do not get any easier, as they welcome No. 3 Alabama to Moody Center on Tuesday.
The Longhorns started strong, taking a 9-2 lead after Kadin Shedrick’s free throws at the 17:43 mark. Following Devon Pryor’s three-point play which extended the lead to 12-8 with 14:39 left, Vanderbilt responded with a 12-0 run, to take a 20-12 lead.
Tyler Nickel’s three-pointer gave Vanderbilt a 33-24 lead with 6:45 remaining, but Texas finished the half on a 15-2 run, leading 39-35 at the half. The Longhorns held the Commodores to just one field goal in their last 12 attempts in the first half.
Vanderbilt started the second half with a 5-0 run, taking a 40-39 lead after Chris Manon’s layup. After Jason Edwards’ jumper tied the game at 44-44, Texas responded with a 10-0 run, taking a 54-44 after Julian Larry’s basket at the 14:04 mark. Vanderbilt cut the lead to 56-53 with a 9-2 run, highlighted by Tyler Nickel’s three-pointer at 11:08.
Tre Johnson’s three-pointer extended Texas’ lead to 61-56 at 10:04, but Vanderbilt tied it at 61-61 after A.J. Hoggard’s free throws at 8:39. Jayson Kent’s three-pointer put Texas up 65-61 at 6:51, but Vanderbilt’s 10-0 run, ending with Edwards’ three-pointer at 4:58, gave them a 71-65 lead. Johnson’s free throws cut it to 71-67 at 4:37, but Texas couldn’t close the gap further.
Tre Johnson led the Longhorns in scoring with 15 points, while Arthur Kaluma scored 12 points and had seven rebounds.
Texas shot 41.7 from the floor compared to Vanderbilt’s 42.3%. The Longhorns were outrebounded 44-40 and committed nine turnovers to Vanderbilt’s 7.
Texas and No. 3 Alabama will tip at 8:00 pm on Tuesday at Moody Center with the game being televised nationally on ESPN.
