Texas basketball pushed Purdue to the final second in the Sweet 16, capping a resilient NCAA Tournament run led by Tramon Mark’s 29-point effort.
Texas basketball didn’t get the ending it wanted Thursday night, but the Longhorns’ Sweet 16 run still said plenty about the fight in this team.
In a 79-77 loss to Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, Texas showed the same toughness and resilience that carried it through a demanding season and back onto one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
That’s the story worth remembering. With Tramon Mark gutting through obvious pain in his injured left foot, Texas kept swinging. The veteran guard poured in 29 points, the most by a Longhorn in an NCAA Tournament game since Kevin Durant scored 30 in 2007, and gave Texas a chance until the final second.
Mark wasn’t just productive; he was fearless, playing through discomfort and delivering the kind of performance that defines March.
Texas also got a huge late spark from Dailyn Swain, whose driving finish plus the foul tied the game with 11.9 seconds left. It was the kind of moment that reflected this team’s personality all season: composed, aggressive and unwilling to back down.
Yes, Purdue escaped on a last-second putback by Trey Kaufman-Renn, who finished with 20 points, while Braden Smith added 16. But even in defeat, Texas proved it belonged in the national conversation.
The Longhorns finished 21-15, and that record hardly captures how much ground they covered. Under Sean Miller, Texas reached the Sweet 16 and kept battling against one of the nation’s top teams until the closing tick.
For a roster that had to navigate pressure, injuries and high expectations, that matters.
This wasn’t a season defined by one heartbreaking finish. It was a season defined by toughness, growth and a team that kept coming. Texas didn’t leave March with a win, but it absolutely left with respect.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community for FREE! Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable App to stay even more connected!