A Missed Opportunity for Texas

At one point, the Texas Longhorns were leading by seven points with just two minutes left on the clock. Star wing Dailyn Swain was dominating the game with a 34-point triple-double, and the team had all the momentum as they entered SEC conference play under coach Sean Miller. It seemed like an ideal opportunity for Texas to start their season in the SEC with a 1-0 record.

However, as the final seconds of regulation ticked down, things began to unravel. Jordan Pope’s jumper failed to fall, and the Longhorns found themselves heading into overtime after a 7-0 run by Mississippi State. The momentum had shifted dramatically, and the game was no longer in Texas’ control.

Key Moments That Changed the Game

After Texas took the lead, Mississippi State secured two straight offensive rebounds, a trend that would define much of the game. Swain committed a foul on the second-chance effort from Achor Achor, which was his fifth foul of the game. This led to his ejection, leaving the Longhorns without their star player for the rest of the game.

It’s impossible to discuss this game without addressing the controversial officiating. Both of Swain’s final two fouls were questionable at best, and several decisions by the referees—whether calls or no-calls—sparked frustration among the crowd at the Moody Center. The atmosphere was surprisingly intense, and many fans felt the officials played a significant role in the outcome.

A three-pointer from Josh Hubbard, who finished with 38 points, and a second-chance jumper tied the game, sending it into overtime. But in the extra session, the Longhorns struggled without Swain. They managed only one bucket in half-court offense during overtime, with every other point coming from free throws or a surprising fast break steal by Tramon Mark to tie the game with less than a minute remaining.

The Impact of Losing Key Players

Without Swain and eventually Pope, who also fouled out, the Longhorns’ half-court offense was ineffective. They relied heavily on Mark and Matas Vokietatis, but missed free throws and costly turnovers ultimately cost them the game.

Mississippi State continued to shine on the offensive end. Hubbard and guard Jayden Epps combined for 65 of the team’s 101 points. No other player reached double digits, highlighting how dominant the duo was throughout the game.

While Texas fans may look to the referees for blame, the Longhorns essentially shot themselves in the foot. Even if the Bulldogs’ success can be attributed to their exceptional shooting, Texas gave up 19 offensive rebounds in the game. Mississippi State was +7 on a team known for its rebounding, and Vokietatis, the 7’1 center, only grabbed two defensive boards. This was a critical issue for Texas, especially when matched against a guard-heavy lineup.

Coach Miller’s Take on the Loss

“Sometimes it’s just toughness, sometimes it’s your coverage,” Swain said about the rebounding struggles. “They might get better positioning than you under the basket, but no matter what it is, we just have to be better as a team.”

The Longhorns were out-rebounded by eight total, and despite having a better field goal percentage, fewer turnovers, and more fastbreak points, they still couldn’t secure the win.

Head coach Sean Miller acknowledged the problem: “One thing we’ve done really well this season is defensive rebound. And tonight, that left us.” He explained that part of the issue was playing Swain more at the four position and using three guards, making the team smaller and less effective on the boards.

A Bright Spot in the Game

Despite the loss, there was one bright spot for Texas: Dailyn Swain. He ended the game with 34 points and 14 rebounds, delivering a triple-double performance that marked his third of the season. If not for the controversial calls that led to his fourth and fifth fouls, Swain could have potentially reached 40 points.

“I’ve coached Dailyn Swain for three years, and clearly I thought tonight he played the best game that he’s played in college,” Miller said.

Swain was relentless offensively, attacking the glass and finishing And-ones and fast-break chances consistently. On defense, he showed energy, though he was only credited with one steal. He was the driving force behind Texas’ efforts to overcome the challenges they faced.

Looking Ahead for Texas

Unfortunately for Texas, Swain is performing at a level that suggests he could be a first-round draft pick. This is the second consecutive season where the Longhorns have had a true star who may not last two seasons.

Texas fell to 0-1 in conference play, losing to a team they were favored to beat by 9.5 points at home. Although Mississippi State isn’t necessarily the second-worst team in the SEC, KenPom ranked them outside the top-80 before the game.

This wasn’t a must-win game, but for Texas to make it to the NCAA Tournament, they cannot afford to lose home games to bottom-seven SEC teams.

The Longhorns face a tough road ahead, with upcoming games against top-20 teams Tennessee and Alabama within the next seven days. Their next home matchup will be against Vanderbilt 11 days from now.