Texas battled in Hartford but crumbled at the line and in the paint, falling to UConn 71-63 as the Longhorns leave non-conference play with more questions than wins.
The Texas Longhorns had every chance to make a statement on the road. Instead, they walked away from Hartford with another missed opportunity and mounting concerns.
Facing No. 5 UConn in their first true road game of the season, the Longhorns fell 71-63 on Friday night inside PeoplesBank Arena.
The loss, while competitive, revealed many of the flaws that have haunted Texas early in the year with defensive lapses, foul trouble, and most notably, disastrous free-throw shooting.
Despite solid outings from Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope, who each scored 15 points, the Longhorns couldn't execute when it mattered.
READ MORE: Texas Lands Jabbar Juluke: Sark's Fix For a Broken Run Game Starts Now
Freshman Dailyn Swain, typically a steady contributor, had his worst game of the season, scoring nine points while going 3-of-8 from the line. Texas shot just 68 percent on free throws (19-of-28), leaving crucial points on the table, and UConn made them pay.
Head coach Sean Miller had recently called his team "at a crossroads," and this game felt like proof.
Even after falling behind early, Texas showed fight. A 6-0 second-half run trimmed the deficit to eight, and a pair of free throws from Dovis Vokietaitis cut it to five with just over four minutes to play.
But UConn's response was the dagger. Guard Solo Ball hit a prayer from nearly half-court at the shot clock buzzer, followed by a three from Alex Karaban, who finished with a game-high 18 points. The Huskies' clutch shooting was everything Texas lacked in the final minutes.
READ MORE: Longhorns Face No. 5 UConn in Brutal Reality Check Ahead of SEC Play
Even UConn's own offensive droughts weren't enough for Texas to capitalize. Missed layups, missed free throws, and an inability to finish in the paint kept the Longhorns from closing the gap.
Now at the end of non-conference play, Texas holds just one win over a high-major opponent - NC State in Maui - and a growing problem. The opportunity to prove something on a national stage slipped away.
If the Longhorns want a shot at the NCAA Tournament, it won't be handed to them. They'll need to find answers fast ... and hope this isn't the start of a slide they can’t stop.