Texas Falls Short in Shocking Home Loss to Arkansas: Struggles, Turnovers, and a Missed Comeback
AUSTIN, Texas — In a game that the Texas Longhorns desperately needed to win, they instead delivered a lackluster performance, suffering a 78-70 defeat to the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Moody Center on Wednesday night. Texas trailed by as many as 23 points, mounted a late rally, but ultimately fell short in front of a stunned home crowd.
Slow Start Dooms Texas
From the opening tip, Texas struggled offensively, needing nearly 30 minutes to reach 30 points. At halftime, the Longhorns were already down 11 points and allowed the deficit to balloon to 23 before a 12-0 run provided a brief glimmer of hope.
“They really came out and set the tone with their defense, really out-physicalled us in the first half,” head coach Rodney Terry admitted postgame. “We didn’t do a great job of taking care of the basketball. I didn’t do a great job of having my guys prepared.”
Offensive Struggles Lead to Early Hole
The Longhorns’ leading scorers—Tre Johnson and Arthur Kaluma—both struggled with efficiency.
- Johnson finished with 25 points but needed 22 shots to get there, with 10 of his points coming from the free-throw line.
- Kaluma managed just 12 points on 11 shots, battling foul trouble throughout the game.
- Senior guard Julian Larry provided 11 points off the bench, but the rest of Texas’ reserves combined for only four points.
Adding to the woes, Tramon Mark went scoreless in 21 minutes, while forwards Ze’Rik Onyema and Jayson Kent combined for just two points in 26 minutes.
Meanwhile, Arkansas capitalized on Texas’ mistakes. Guard Johnell Davis torched the Longhorns with a season-high 24 points, knocking down four three-pointers and racking up four steals.
Turnovers and Missed Shots Pile Up
Texas was sloppy with the ball, committing eight first-half turnovers that allowed Arkansas to establish early momentum. The Longhorns shot a dismal 34.4% from the field and 27.3% from three, failing to find a rhythm offensively.
“To be honest, they missed a lot of shots they normally make,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari noted postgame.
The problems started early. Jordan Pope and Arthur Kaluma scored on dribble penetration to open the game, but Arkansas quickly responded with an 11-0 run, forcing a Rodney Terry timeout before the first media break. The Longhorns turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions, setting the tone for a long night.
Adding to the adversity, Kadin Shedrick suffered a lower back injury after a hard collision, limiting his availability.
Razorbacks Dominate Second Half, Texas’ Late Push Falls Short
Texas came out of halftime needing a spark, but instead, Arkansas extended its lead to 19 points after a 10-0 run to start the second half. The Longhorns missed their first 10 shots of the period, stretching their scoring drought to nearly eight minutes.
The Longhorns eventually found life with a 9-0 run, highlighted by a Tre Johnson transition three and an emphatic Shedrick dunk over Arkansas’ Zvonimir Ivisic.
With 4:27 remaining, Arthur Kaluma’s reverse layup cut the lead to nine points, but costly fouls and missed opportunities kept Texas from completing the comeback.
Johnson had a chance to make it a one-possession game in the final minute but mishandled a Julian Larry pass in transition, leading to Texas’ 11th and final turnover. Arkansas sealed the game at the free-throw line.
Shedrick Calls for Urgency Moving Forward
After the loss, Kadin Shedrick acknowledged the team’s slow start cost them the game.
“If you give away a game in the first half and early in the second half like that, it’s gonna be hard to win,” Shedrick said. “We’ve gotta learn from this, get better against the pressure, and try to grow against teams like that as we move forward.”
The Longhorns will look to regroup as they hit the road to face Vanderbilt on Saturday.
