Dailyn Swain and Matas Vokietaitis delivered crucial double-doubles, powering Texas to a thrilling 88-85 victory and extending their SEC win streak to five.
Texas basketball is heating up at exactly the right time. Behind dominant double-doubles from Dailyn Swain and Matas Vokietaitis, the Longhorns outlasted LSU 88-85 on Tuesday night at Moody Center, securing their fifth consecutive SEC victory.
It’s the program’s longest regular-season conference win streak since the 2019-20 campaign.
Swain delivered a team-high 21 points and 10 rebounds despite being limited to just 21 minutes because of foul trouble. The junior shot an efficient 7-of-12 from the field and continues to be one of the most consistent scorers in the SEC. He has now topped 20 points in seven of 13 conference games.
Vokietaitis matched the energy in the paint, posting 17 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double and fifth of the season. The sophomore center went 6-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line while adding two blocks in 33 minutes.
Graduate guard Tramon Mark chipped in 18 points and a season-high three steals, while Jordan Pope added 18 of his own, knocking down all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. Pope’s clutch baseline jumper with 32 seconds remaining proved to be the dagger in a tense final minute.
Texas (17-9, 8-5 SEC) built a 48-33 halftime lead behind scorching shooting. The Longhorns hit 63 percent from the floor in the first half and drilled 6-of-9 3-pointers, setting the tone early. They led by as many as 17 points before LSU mounted a second-half charge.
The Tigers trimmed a 16-point deficit to just four midway through the second half, capitalizing on a 12-0 run that shifted momentum.
But every time LSU threatened, Texas responded.
An 8-2 surge fueled by Vokietaitis at the free-throw line restored breathing room, and steady late-game execution sealed the win.
Texas finished the night shooting 55.8 percent overall and a season-best 53.8 percent from 3-point range. The Longhorns also held a plus-seven rebounding advantage and committed just eight turnovers.
With five straight SEC wins and six victories in their last seven games, Texas is building serious momentum heading into Saturday’s road test at Georgia.
If Swain and Vokietaitis continue controlling both ends of the floor, the Longhorns look poised to make noise down the stretch in SEC basketball.