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Texas' season stays alive with a double-overtime win over Texas A&M

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•about 15 hours•

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Arthur Kaluma
Arthur Kaluma (Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

One of the most physical games of basketball the Texas Longhorns have played all year needed more than 40 minutes. It took more than 45 minutes. Texas needed all 50 minutes of double-overtime and contributions from the entire roster to get past the Texas A&M Aggies, 94-89, and keep the Longhorns’ NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

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The game with A&M, who the Longhorns split the season series with, finished regulation tied at 73 after A&M’s Henry Coleman III hit a layup and Texas couldn’t make a game-winner on the other end. The first overtime period ended tied at 79 thanks to a great look from Tramon Mark for Kadin Shedrick for a tying dunk with four seconds left.

By that point, it was a battle of attrition. Five total players, two Longhorns and three Aggies, fouled out during the game. But Texas took control in the second overtime period to earn a win that may have sealed a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The moment of the day came from the fingertips of Tre Johnson. With the Longhorns trailing by one with two minutes left in the game, Jordan Pope drove down the left side and brought four Aggie defenders with him. Somehow, seemingly with eyes in the back of his head, Pope found Johnson wide open from way downtown. Johnson collected the ball and calmly put the ball through for three points to take a two-point lead and put the Longhorns ahead for good.

Johnson scored 20 points on 8-for-21 shooting plus 4-for-9 from three. Texas also had double-digit scoring from Mark (15 points), Shedrick (14 points), Pope (13 points), Arthur Kaluma (12 points), and Chendall Weaver (10 points).

The six players in double figures illustrate how contributions came from the entire roster. All 10 players who saw minutes made a field goal to contribute to Texas’ 94-point effort. The Longhorns were 43 percent from the field, 41 percent from three, and 74 percent from the line. Texas also committed only six turnovers, limiting the Aggies’ ability to get in transition.

Texas kept the Aggies at bay on the glass during the first half, but A&M flexed its muscle on the glass during the second half and overtime. A&M logged 20 offensive rebounds and netted 26 second chance points, most of that work happening in the second half.

Plus, Wade Taylor IV had a phenomenal night from the free throw line. Scoring 29 points for the Aggies, Taylor IV was 17-for-19 from the line and 5-for-18 from three. But defensive efforts kept him at bay from distance, limiting him to a 2-for-7 night from three.

The Texas team effort was enough for Texas to overcome individual excellence by Taylor IV.

Mark once again made things happen as a facilitator for the Longhorn offense even with Texas A&M providing some three-quarter court pressure. He had five assists and was key in everything the Longhorns did before fouling out.

Shedrick was at his best at the free throw line. He was 10-for-10 at the stripe, including an 8-for-8 effort in the second half and 2-for-2 after regulation.

Weaver may have had scoring contributions, but his best game was saved for the defensive end. A key 23 minutes kept the best of the Aggies hard at work for their scoring efforts.

Texas will face Tennessee tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. or 25 minutes after the completion of the noon game.

The Longhorns brought a 33-27 lead into the halftime break and were able to keep the Aggies from accentuating their strengths. The Longhorns committed just two turnovers and won the rebounding battle 22-20. Texas surrendered only three offensive rebounds and turned A&M’s forte against them. Eighteen of Texas’ 33 points were in the paint. Meanwhile, the Aggies found a decent clip from three-point land, shooting 4-for-12 from three compared to Texas’ 2-for-9.

Nine Longhorns made a field goal in the first half.

The win boosts the Longhorns to 19-14 and may have been enough to seal a place within the field of 68 for the Longhorns. Texas was considered one of the first four teams out major projections, even the first team out in some, and had some help Thursday in the form of losses by Indiana and Xavier. Boise State is in the second half of their game, while North Carolina plays Duke tomorrow night.

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Texas will find out its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday at 5 p.m. on CBS. But first, Rick Barnes and the Volunteers, who topped Texas 74-70 in January and will be playing their first game in the SEC Tournament tomorrow, stand in the way of Texas and a spot in the semifinals.

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