Second-Half Collapse Dooms Missouri Against Longhorns
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A promising start dissolved in the second half for the Missouri Tigers, who fell to the Texas Longhorns 85-68 on Saturday night. The game was a tight affair for the first 25 minutes, with the score knotted at 41-41 with 14:39 left to play. From that point on, however, Texas seized control, mounting a massive 44-27 run to close out the contest and hand the Tigers a damaging home loss.
The offensive disparity down the stretch was stark. While Missouri's offense struggled to find a rhythm, Texas caught fire, converting 16 of their final 20 shots from the field. The Longhorns' offensive surge was led by Dailyn Swain, who scored 18 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, and a double-double from Matas Vokietaitis (19 points, 10 rebounds). For Missouri, the loss highlighted a recurring issue: the Tigers are now 0-7 on the season when their points per possession dips below 1.07.
Mark Mitchell and Jayden Stone led the Tigers with 16 points apiece, while Anthony Robinson II added 11. However, the offensive firepower wasn't enough to keep pace with the Longhorns' late-game execution. The road ahead doesn't get any easier for Missouri, as their schedule features three of the top four defenses in the SEC as they continue their push for an NCAA Tournament berth.
QUICK HITS
- Tennessee Bolsters Defensive Staff: The Tennessee Volunteers have officially named Derek Jones as the team's new cornerbacks coach. A 27-year coaching veteran, Jones arrives in Knoxville after a stint at Virginia Tech and reunites with new Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, with whom he previously coached at Duke.
- SEC Teams Climbing Leaderboard in Moon Golf Invitational: Several SEC women's golf teams made significant moves during the second round of the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida. Mississippi State surged into fourth place with a 3-under par team round, while No. 22/25 Tennessee shot 2-under par to climb four spots into fifth. Ole Miss also jumped three spots up the leaderboard into seventh place.
- Arkansas' Tyson Invitational Rated Among World's Best: World Athletics has ranked the Tyson Invitational, hosted by the Arkansas Razorbacks, as the third-best indoor track and field meet in the world for 2026. The event featured multiple Olympic champions and world-class performances, cementing its status as a premier event on the global athletics calendar.
- Alabama Baseball Faces Midweek Tests: The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team is preparing for a pair of midweek contests. They will travel to face Samford on Tuesday, Feb. 17, before returning to Tuscaloosa to host Alabama State on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
PORTAL WATCH
The SEC transfer portal was quiet over the last 12 hours, with no new entries or commitments to report.
RECRUITING BUZZ
No new football or basketball commitments were announced across the Southeastern Conference on Monday.