Texas Longhorns Fall to Ole Miss in SEC Tournament Upset, NCAA Tournament Hopes Hang in the Balance

NASHVILLE — The Texas Longhorns suffered a disappointing 76-66 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in the first round of the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, raising concerns about their NCAA Tournament prospects.

Despite the setback, Texas coach Sean Miller remains optimistic about his team’s chances of making the tournament. “Look, the bullseye’s to always be a part of the tournament,” Miller said. “You failed if you weren’t part of it.”

Texas (18-14) has lost three straight games and five of its last six, but their overall metrics still position them favorably for at least consideration for the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. However, their performance against Ole Miss (13-19) highlighted significant offensive struggles.

Offensive Struggles Plague Texas

The Longhorns shot just 35.2% from the floor and committed 13 turnovers, scoring only 18 points in the paint. Post player Matas Vokietaitis was limited to 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting, a stark contrast to his previous performance against Ole Miss where he scored 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting.

“It might be our overall worst performance of the season when you consider offensive efficiency,” Miller said. “Our defense was not good, but it’s been masked so many times throughout the season because of our offense. Throughout our season, we’ve had those stretches where we struggled defensively, but we more than make up for it because we score. And during those stretches, it doesn’t bury us as much as it buried us tonight, because we’re able to score on our end.”

Swain Leads Texas, Ole Miss Dominates the Paint

Dailyn Swain led Texas with 22 points, making 13 of 14 free throws. Jordan Pope added 16 points, including a late 3-pointer that briefly narrowed the gap to 66-63. However, Ole Miss maintained control throughout the game, never trailing.

Ole Miss forward Malik Dia led all scorers with 23 points, while AJ Storr contributed 18 points. The Rebels dominated the paint, outscoring Texas 50-18.

Key Stats and Game Flow

Ole Miss’s victory was fueled by their ability to force 13 turnovers and secure a 13-0 advantage in points off turnovers. They also had a significant edge on the bench, scoring 24 points to Texas’s 5.

Texas struggled from the field, shooting 35.2% overall and 31% in the first half. Ole Miss shot 47.4% from the floor.

Looking Ahead

The Longhorns now await Selection Sunday, hoping their strong overall record and metrics will be enough to secure an NCAA Tournament berth, potentially starting in the First Four. The loss to Ole Miss undoubtedly complicates their seeding and path through the tournament.

Team Statistics:

Source: ESPN