Texas basketball falls 91-80 at Georgia despite 22 points from Matas Vokietaitis as a late Bulldogs run sinks the Longhorns.
Texas basketball had the offense humming in Athens, but it wasn't enough in a 91-80 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Defense? That was another story.
The Longhorns shot a blistering 57 percent from the floor and got elite efficiency from Matas Vokietaitis, who poured in 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Dailyn Swain added 21 points attacking downhill, and Jordan Pope chipped in 17, including a cold-blooded step-back 3 that knotted the game at 67 with just over seven minutes left.
That’s when it unraveled. Georgia responded with a decisive surge that flipped a tight SEC battle into a double-digit separation.
A thunderous dunk sparked the Bulldogs, and moments later Blue Cain converted a 3-point play to ignite a game-changing run. Kanon Catchings buried a dagger three inside the final three minutes, stretching the margin beyond reach.
The Bulldogs shot 60 percent overall and hit 11 of 20 from deep, carving up Texas’ perimeter defense all afternoon.
Jeremiah Wilkinson delivered 19 points off the bench, providing instant offense. Marcus Millender orchestrated the attack with 15 points and five assists, while Cain and Catchings combined for 25.
Texas (17-10, 8-6 SEC) showed fight, but couldn’t string together stops when it mattered most.
Even with the offense matching Georgia bucket-for-bucket for stretches, the inability to contain penetration and contest perimeter looks proved costly.
The season series ends split after Texas dominated the earlier matchup in Austin, but this one stings. In a crowded SEC standings race, road wins are gold - and this was a missed opportunity.
The Longhorns now turn their focus to a massive home test against No. 12 Florida. If Texas wants to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation and strengthen its SEC resume, tightening up defensively has to be priority No. 1.