COLUMBIA, Mo. — Dailyn Swain scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half as the University of Texas Longhorns defeated the Missouri Tigers 85-68 Saturday night at Mizzou Arena, securing their fourth consecutive Southeastern Conference win.
The victory improves Texas’s overall record to 16-9 and their SEC record to 7-5. Missouri falls to 17-8, also with a 7-5 conference record. This marks the first time since the 2020-21 season that the Longhorns have achieved four consecutive regular-season conference victories, a run that previously occurred in Big 12 play.
Swain’s performance was bolstered by a double-double from sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis, who contributed 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior Jordan Pope added 15 points for Texas.
The game was closely contested in the first half, featuring 10 lead changes and seven ties. Neither team established a lead exceeding five points. Missouri initially gained a 12-7 advantage following a free throw by Nicholas Randall, but Texas responded to tie the score at 12-12. The half continued to seesaw, with the Longhorns taking a narrow 33-31 lead into halftime after a late three-point play by Tramon Mark.
Texas seized control in the second half, outscoring Missouri 52-37. The Longhorns’ shooting efficiency dramatically improved, converting 61.5% of their field goal attempts (16-of-26) and 94.1% of their free throws (16-of-17). Conversely, Missouri struggled from the field, shooting just 38.1% (8-of-21) and 20% from three-point range (1-of-5).
The Longhorns dominated the boards, finishing with a plus-10 rebound margin (36-26) and a 14-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. This allowed Texas to control possession and create second-chance opportunities.
The Longhorns’ second-half surge included an 11-3 run that extended their lead to 59-48, and a late 10-2 run that sealed the victory. Missouri managed to narrow the deficit to nine points with four minutes remaining, but Texas responded decisively.
Texas will next host LSU on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. Central in Moody Center, with the game televised nationally on SEC Network.
