After going 1-3 against Power Five conferences through the first six weeks of the season, Texas basketball has one last chance at a statement nonconference win Friday when it visits No. 5 Connecticut.
Texas (7-3) fell behind by 12 points in the first half but rallied to within two behind guards Jordan Pope (nine points), Tramon Mark (eight points) and Simeon Wilcher (seven points). But UConn (9-1) closed the first half on an 8-1 run to take a 43-34 lead into the break.
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The Longhorns have clamped down on a dangerous transition game by UConn and have limited the Huskies to just three offensive rebounds, but Texas shot just 43% from the floor in the first half compared to 68% for UConn. Can Texas get forward Dailyn Swain and post Matas Vokietaitis — the team’s leading scorers for the season — going after they combined for just seven points on 2-of-6 shooting?
Follow below for live updates as the Texas Longhorns play the UConn Huskies Friday at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn.
MORE: Career night from Matas Vokietaitis keys Longhorns’ win over Southern
Malachi Smith, left, of the Connecticut Huskies goes for the steal against the Texas Longhorns’ Simeon Wilcher during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on Dec. 12, 2025, in Hartford, Conn. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
Foul trouble is adding up for UConn. Guard Silas Demary Jr. and freshman big Eric Reibe both have four fouls, and this second half has turned into a parade to the foul line for Texas. Now, about that 15-of-22 from the stripe for the Longhorns. Oh, and Dailyn Swain has four fouls for Texas.
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One thing about these Longhorns: They draw fouls, especially post Matas Vokietaitis. They’re already in the bonus, but they’ll have to shoot better than 64.3%, which is their free t6hrow rate so far in this game.
Texas did a good job on the defensive glass in the first half, but the Huskies are starting to get to their offensive boards. They already have four offensive boards this half after grabbing three before the break. Texas can’t afford to give up second shots. The Longhorns are getting a more aggressive version of Dailyn Swain, who has nine points but is just 3-of-6 on free throws.
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Texas closed to within 35-33 but the Huskies closed the half on an 8-1 run. UConn played at a high level while shooting 68% from the floor, and Texas played much of that half with two fouls apiece on forward Dailyn Swain and post Matas Vokietaitis. That’s a little silver lining for the Longhorns.
Tramon Mark, Simeon Welcher and Jordan Pope have combined for 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting for Texas while Alex Karaban (9 points) is dissecting the Texas defense for UConn. No one has better timing on cuts in college ball.
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Texas is showing some spunk. Simeon Welcher has come off the bench for a quick seven points, Jordan Pope is 3-for-3 for seven points, and Texas is on a 7-0 run over the past 1:26.
Texas is showing some spunk. Simeon Welcher has come off the bench for a quick seven points, Jordan Pope is 3-for-3 for seven points, and Texas is on a 7-0 run over the past 1:26.
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Texas big man Matas Vokietaitis gets his second foul at the 9:05 mark after giving a shove while battling for a rebound. He’s on the bench. Dailyn Swain then gets his second offensive foul, and the Texas offense has bogged down.
Defense has been the focal point this week for UT coach Sean Miller, who wanted less fouling. The good news for Texas? Only two fouls. The bad news? They’re getting screened off the 3-point line, and UConn is making them pay by making 3 of 5 from long distance. UConn is shooting 69.2% from the floor early.
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UConn is in the midst of one of its patented runs early. Freshman Braylon Mullins has five points, every UConn starter has scored, and the Longhorns are leaning almost solely on Tramon Mark (six points) in the midrange.
They’re off in Connecticut, and Texas post Matas Vokietaitis, guess what, draws a foul. He makes one of two free throws.
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Texas coach Sean Miller hinted at some lineup changes earlier in the week to try and fix the Longhorns’ defensive woes, but he sticks with his regular starting five. The big-lineup experiment with Lassina Traore alongside Matas Vokietaitis instead of Camden Heide lasted about 70 seconds in Monday’s win over Southern.
Texas starting lineup
G Jordan Pope (12.5 ppg, 3.1 apg)
G Tramon Mark (9.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
F Dailyn Swain (15.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
F Camden Heide (7.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
C Matas Vokietaitis (15.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
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UConn starting lineup
G Solo Ball (15 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
G Silas Demary Jr. (10 ppg, 5.1 apg)
G Braylon Mullins (8.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
F Tarris Reed Jr. (14.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
F Alex Karaban (13.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
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Where: PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn.
Money line: UConn -1400; Texas +825
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TV/radio: FOX, 1300, 98.1, 105.3 (Spanish)
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