Tramon Mark scored 24 points, including two important late free throw, which Texas exceeded No. 25 Mississippi State 87-82 at overtime on Wednesday in a southeastern conference game in Starkville, Miss.
Longhorns (17-13, 6-11 SEK), played in an almost do-or-die game, led by five points at half time and nine after a free throw by Kadin Shedrick with 3:52 to play. Mississippi State (20-10, 8-9) gathered to bind the match when Riley Kugel scored on a driving scheme with 19 seconds left.
Texas never dragged on overtime and went up 80-75 with 2:20 to play. The team traded baskets at the edge before a three-point game of Kugel with 38.4 seconds left the match at 82-82. Shedrick made one of two free throw with 32 seconds left to put Longhorns up at one point, and Kugel followed with two huge misses from the charity band six seconds later.
Mark produced two free throw with 20.8 seconds left to extend the lead to 85-82. The bulldogs Josh Hubbard rimmed out a 3-point with 10 seconds left, and Arthur Kaluma took hold of Rebundet before ending the victory with two free throw.
Three Johnson got 23 points for Texas. Kaluma finished with 10 points and 11 returns and Shedrick added 10 points when Longhorn’s snapped a three-game losing line.
Hubbard led Mississippi State with 16 points, depending half time. RJ Melendez added 15, Keshawn Murphy had 13, Kugel and Cameron Matthews got 12 each and Shawn Jones Jr. met for 10 points.
Mississippi State went up 30-24 when Melendez preserved a jumper and then a 3-pointer, the latter with 4:38 left before half time. Texas responded by surpassing Bulldogs 13-2 through the rest of the half. Kent’s tip-in arrangement with 10 seconds left gave Longhorns a lead of 37-32 at the break.
Melendez led all goal scores before half time with 11 points. Johnson paced Texas with 10 points.
Longhorns stayed on the accelerator early in the second half and expanded the margin to eight points when Shedrick hammered a can with 15:51 to play. After a couple of free throw by Kugel, Johnson poured a 3-pointer and the Jordan Pope entered the lane for a scoop layout that set up Texas 51-40.
-Field level media
