Pope drops 28, Swain and Mark deliver clutch plays as Texas shocks undefeated Crimson Tide for crucial first SEC victory.
Texas walked into Tuscaloosa on Saturday night with an 0-2 SEC record, a lot of noise around the program, and exactly zero interest in being somebody else’s get-right game.
Instead, the Longhorns flipped the script and stunned No. 13 Alabama 92-88 at Coleman Coliseum, grabbing their first SEC win and snapping the kind of early league skid that can turn January into a long, grumpy month.
The headliner was Jordan Pope, who poured in 28 points and hit Alabama with the full menu of deep 3s, tough finishes, and a closing stretch at the free throw line that looked like he was paying rent on time.
Dailyn Swain added 18 points, eight boards, and the defensive play that became the game’s exclamation point. Tramon Mark matched Swain with 18, including a layup with 23 seconds left that gave Texas the breathing room every road team begs for late.
Texas did the damage right after halftime.
The Longhorns opened the second half with a 20-8 run, stretching the lead to 13 and never giving it back. Alabama made their push, because that is what good teams do at home, slicing it to 75-74 with a little more than five minutes left. The Tide had the crowd, the pace, and the pressure. Texas had answers.
And then it got spicy.
With the game tight in the final minute, Alabama guard Aden Holloway drove with a chance to make it a one-possession game. Swain met him at the rim and swatted the shot, a block so loud you could probably hear it back in Austin.
Pope scooped up the loose ball, got fouled, and calmly nailed free throws. He finished the game by making four straight at the line.
Alabama had numbers, too.
Labaron Philon scored 21 with five assists, but his five turnovers were costly. Holloway had 18, and Taylor Bol Bowen posted 11 points and 10 rebounds. Still, Texas won the grind where it mattered most, outrebounding Alabama 48-38.
Keep your eyes on two things going forward. First, this team can score with anyone when Pope is hunting 3s, and Mark is attacking the paint. Second, the rebounding has to travel again on Wednesday, because No. 11 Vanderbilt is coming to Austin, and they will not be polite about second-chance points.
Texas got its first SEC win. Now comes the hard part. Proving it was not a one night heater.