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Two Takeaways from Texas' 61-53 win over No. 22 Missouri

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•01/21/25•

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Arthur Kaluma (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

The Texas Longhorns earned their first ever home SEC win on Tuesday night with a 61-53 win over the Missouri Tigers. Here are two takeaways, plus a recap of the game below.

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The Longhorn defense does a job

Entering this game, the lowest point output for Missouri during the 2024-25 season came versus Auburn when Mizzou only put 68 points on the board. That stood as the only game of the year where the Tigers failed to reach the 70 point threshold.

Missouri scored just 53 on Tuesday, including three over the final 3:07.

The Tigers’ best offense was obviously anything that came in transition, but Missouri wasn’t able to run. There were only two fastbreak points for the Tigers, meaning they had to earn their 51 other points.

Scoring was a brutal task for both teams in the first few minutes of the game, with much of it due to active hands and true physical play at or near the rim. Missouri made its run in the early stages of the second half, and tried to nurse that lead over the remainder of the period.

But Texas wasn’t letting Missouri go on any sort of run. To the Longhorns’ credit, the biggest scoring streak for Mizzou was the six-point stretch that gave them the early second half lead. The Longhorns didn’t allow the brutal double-digit “killshots” that have plagued their recent games. Then, Texas more than made up for it after the final under-four timeout with a 7-0 run to put things back to about where they were at the break.

The Longhorns put in a strong effort to keep Missouri under season averages. The Tigers shot 31.3 percent compared to their normal 49.2 percent mark from the field. From three-point land, Mizzou was just 4-for-22, well under the 37.9 percent the Tigers average.

The Tigers were also at their average at the free throw line, but that was balanced out by Texas winning that battle by four makes.

Missouri likely had too much dribble penetration for Rodney Terry‘s liking, but Texas was often stout in the paint and crashed the boards on the many misses to win the rebound battle 39-31. That occurred on 59 Mizzou possessions. The Texas offense wasn’t perfect, with Arthur Kaluma‘s 14 points and Tre Johnson‘s 12 points functioning as the only two Texas double-figure postings. But it was more than enough with the way Texas’ defense kept a team that averages 84.8 points per game under 55.

Arthur Kaluma is Mr. Do-It-All

It’s a good thing Kaluma remains in the lineup despite his calf problem.

He has been the best playmaker for the Longhorns considering Johnson’s recent struggles from the field. He posted yet another double-double in 32 minutes of action, scoring 14 points on 4-for-10 shooting with 12 rebounds split evenly between the offensive and defensive variety. He also notched two steals, two blocks, and two assists.

In an offense that features too much isolation for most observers’ liking, Kaluma is able to operate in the middle of a defense and pose a passing and scoring threat. He typically goes the scoring route but he is able to set up others around him, especially when the Longhorns don’t play with a true big on the floor.

His rebounding, however, has proven to be essential. The team’s leading rebounder, Kaluma created a number of offensive second-chance opportunities that Texas turned into 20 second-chance points.

Plus, he’s turned in heady defensive play. For as long as Johnson is in his slump, Kaluma is the team’s top playmaker. He was all that and more versus Missouri on Tuesday night.

By:Joe Cook

Texas ends on a 10-2 run for SEC win No. 2

01/21/2025 10:22:52 PM

The Longhorns do work at the free throw line and keep Missouri from hitting anything to finish the first home SEC win in Texas men’s basketball history

By:Joe Cook

Longhorns lead by one with three-plus minutes left

01/21/2025 10:07:02 PM

The Longhorns have taken their first lead since the 16:00 mark of the second half. Julian Larry has posted quality second half minutes after a struggle early in the period. Jayson Kent has also had a strong game, cutting to the basket and playing quality defense. The Longhorns’ ability to limit Missouri’s pace has been key in this game being a 51-50 affair in favor of the Horns with 3:07 left.

By:Joe Cook

Missouri with a small lead late in the second half

01/21/2025 09:51:52 PM

Missouri leads 45-41, meaning both teams have combined for four points in four minutes. Neither team can get anything going on the offensive end. Texas is struggling to generate good looks, while Missouri is not able to make things work while outside of transition. Teams are 2-for-last-15, and both teams are in the bonus with 7:50 left.

By:Joe Cook

Texas locked in a tight one

01/21/2025 09:39:58 PM

By:Joe Cook

Longhorns’ lead dwindles at the U16

01/21/2025 09:25:44 PM

By:Joe Cook

Texas leads 32-25 at the half

01/21/2025 09:02:21 PM

Tre Johnson hits his first field goal, and Arthur Kaluma has a phenomenal stretch to extend the lead up to 10. Caleb Grill finally finds his range and hits a three-pointer to end a five minute stretch for Missouri without a field goal. However, Missouri was still able to find success at the line. That said, Texas puts an exclamation point on the first 20 minutes with a great slam dunk off a Julian Larry dish to make it a seven point contest.

By:Joe Cook

Longhorns lead by three at the U4

01/21/2025 08:50:50 PM

Tre Johnson finally gets on the board with a pair of free throws. Mizzou was finding a good amount of success on the dribble drives in one-on-one situations and getting layup opportunities as a result. But Texas hasn’t allowed a FG in almost three minutes. 22-19 Texas 3:56

By:Joe Cook

Longhorns reach double figures, lead 13-8 at the U8

01/21/2025 08:35:43 PM

Jordan Pope adds the first three-pointers of the game for the Longhorns, and the first of the game for either team, to extend the Texas lead to five. The two teams are a combined 8-for-30 from the field early. The Longhorns, a shorter team compared to Missouri, are out-rebounding the Tigers 14-9 and are winning the defensive and offensive glass. 13-8 Texas 7:49

By:Joe Cook

Texas up one at the U12

01/21/2025 08:25:54 PM

The officials let a considerable amount of contact, including two obvious yet uncalled fouls committed against Tre Johnson. Kadin Shedrick nets the first field goal of the night for the Horns, and Devon Pryor adds two free throws in early minutes. One bucket for Missouri that was ruled a goaltending is taken off the board and the Longhorns lead 5-4 at the 11:12 mark

By:Joe Cook

Missouri leads 2-1 at the U16

01/21/2025 08:14:38 PM

Yes, 2-1. The two defenses limited easy shots within the painted area and forced each other to take deep outside shots. Texas has yet to make a field goal, and the lone point came via Julian Larry going 1-for-2 at the line. Former Texas commit Tamar Bates’ layup is the only field goal so far. 2-1 Mizzou 15:41

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