Texas basketball surges past No. 10 Vanderbilt as Longhorns deliver statement SEC win

Austin, TX — Texas continued its surge in Southeastern Conference play Wednesday night, using balanced scoring and second half control to hand No. 10 Vanderbilt its first loss of the season with an 80 to 64 victory at the Moody Center.

Matas Vokietaitis scored 22 points and Tramon Mark added 21 as the Longhorns improved to 11 and 6 overall and 2 and 2 in SEC play. The win followed Saturday’s victory over then No. 13 Alabama, giving Texas consecutive wins against AP Top 25 opponents and signaling a notable shift in its conference outlook.

Dailyn Swain delivered one of his most complete performances of the season with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. His presence alongside Vokietaitis allowed Texas to control the paint, particularly early, while maintaining offensive balance throughout the night.

After a fast paced opening half that ended with Texas leading 42 to 37, the Longhorns separated themselves after the break. Mark scored 16 of his points in the second half, including consecutive three pointers that pushed Texas ahead by 9 midway through the period. Chendall Weaver followed with a fast break layup and 2 free throws to extend the margin to 12 with 6 minutes remaining. Mark then added 2 more from the line to make it a 14 point game, effectively sealing the outcome.

Mark continues to emerge as a central figure in conference play. He is averaging 19.8 points in SEC games and has converted 11 of 23 three point attempts in league action. Against Vanderbilt, he shot 4 of 7 from beyond the arc while consistently creating advantages late in possessions.

Vanderbilt fell to 16 and 1 overall and 3 and 1 in conference play. Duke Miles led the Commodores with 21 points and Tyler Tanner added 17, but efficiency dropped sharply after halftime. Vanderbilt shot 26.7 percent from the field in the second half and finished at 36.7 percent overall. After making 8 of 15 three point attempts in the first half, the Commodores missed 9 of 10 from long range after the break.

Texas finished the game shooting 53 percent from the field and 7 of 17 from three point range. The Longhorns also generated consistent interior scoring, posting 18 paint points in the first half alone as Vokietaitis and Swain combined for 7 baskets inside. Jordan Pope contributed 12 points, all in the opening half, helping Texas maintain momentum during Vanderbilt’s early runs.

From a broader impact perspective, the win strengthens Texas’ NCAA Tournament profile and reinforces its ability to compete with the upper tier of the SEC. Vanderbilt remains firmly in the conference race, but the loss highlights the importance of shot creation and ball movement when perimeter efficiency declines.

Next steps come quickly for both programs. Vanderbilt returns home to host No. 19 Florida on Saturday in another high level conference test.

Texas remains in Austin to face Texas A&M, a matchup that will further define the Longhorns’ trajectory as league play intensifies.