Jordan Pope, Dailyn Swain Power Texas Past No. 13 Alabama in SEC Breakthrough

TUSCALOOSA Ala. — Jordan Pope scored 28 points and Dailyn Swain added 18, including a pivotal block late, as the Texas Longhorns stunned No. 13 Alabama 92-88 on Saturday night in a crucial Southeastern Conference road victory for Texas.

Texas, under head coach Sean Miller, improved to 10-6 overall and 1-2 in SEC play with a performance that reshapes its early conference outlook. This marked the Longhorns’ first ranked road win in Miller’s tenure and snapped an early three-game SEC skid.

Pope, who tied his season high with 28 points, finished 6-of-13 from beyond the arc and hit four straight free throws in the final 11 seconds to seal the victory. His late game poise was critical for Texas in a game where momentum swung multiple times.

Swain’s 18 points and eight rebounds helped stabilize the Longhorns throughout the contest, and his blocked shot in the final minute on Alabama’s Aden Holloway proved the decisive defensive play. Tramon Mark also scored 18 points and contributed key baskets down the stretch.

Texas took firm control in the second half with a 20-8 run, building a 13-point lead early after intermission. Alabama fought back and cut it to 75-74 with just over five minutes to play but could not complete the comeback.

Alabama was led by Labaron Philon Jr., who scored 21 points and dished five assists, and Aden Holloway added 18 points for the Crimson Tide, now 11-5 overall and 1-2 in SEC play. Forward Taylor Bol Bowen recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Despite those efforts, Alabama lost the rebounding battle 48-38.

This loss snapped Alabama’s home consistency against ranked foes and served as another test in a challenging early conference slate for coach Nate Oats’ squad.

The broader impact is significant for both teams as SEC play tightens. Texas broke through for its first SEC win while avoiding early back-to-back losses that could have put early pressure on its league campaign. For Alabama, the defeat represents a setback in pursuit of top-tier SEC standing after a high-ranking start to the season.

Texas will host No. 11 Vanderbilt at Moody Center on Wednesday, extending its home stretch against quality competition and testing whether this signature win can propel stronger league play results. Alabama heads to Oklahoma on Tuesday seeking to regroup and bounce back after a tough road loss.