Texas men’s basketball defeats No. 13 Texas A&M 70-69 after a spectacular comeback.

In a thrilling contest that will be talked about for years to come, the Texas Longhorns pulled off an unforgettable comeback to defeat the No. 13-ranked Texas A&M Aggies 70-69 in a high-octane showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer. With a dramatic finish that included clutch shots, timely defense, and a never-say-die attitude, the Longhorns capped off what was arguably their most significant victory of the season, while leaving the Aggies to ponder how they let the game slip away after holding a commanding lead for much of the second half.

The atmosphere inside Frank Erwin Center was electric as the Longhorns, having trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, stormed back in the final minutes to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat. The win not only served as a statement to the college basketball world about Texas’ resilience but also set the tone for their future in the Big 12 as they continue to fight for a top spot in the conference standings. Meanwhile, Texas A&M was left to regroup, knowing they had a golden opportunity slip through their fingers in a game they seemed poised to win.

In this article, we’ll break down the key moments of the game, analyze the standout performances from both teams, and examine what went wrong for the Aggies, as well as what this victory means for the Longhorns moving forward.

First Half: Aggies Take Control Early

From the opening tip, it was clear this was going to be an intense matchup between two fierce rivals. Texas A&M, ranked No. 13 in the nation, came out with an aggressive game plan, looking to impose their physicality on both ends of the floor. The Aggies played stifling defense early, limiting the Longhorns to tough, contested shots. Tyrece Radford, a key piece of the Aggies’ offense, set the tone in the opening minutes, scoring efficiently and helping Texas A&M establish an early lead. His ability to drive to the basket and score in transition kept Texas’ defense on its heels.

On the offensive side, Texas A&M’s inside game was dominant. Henry Coleman III was a physical presence down low, using his size and strength to bully his way to the basket and finish through contact. The Aggies’ frontcourt play helped them control the pace early, as they built a modest lead.

Texas, on the other hand, seemed out of sync in the early going. Marcus Carr, who has been the Longhorns’ primary playmaker this season, struggled to find his rhythm. The Aggies’ defense stifled Carr’s usual driving lanes and forced him into tough, contested jumpers. Still, the Longhorns weren’t far behind, thanks to some timely shots from Sir’Jabari Rice and Dylan Disu. Rice in particular was efficient off the bench, providing instant offense when the Longhorns needed it most. His ability to stretch the floor and hit outside shots kept Texas in the game, despite the Aggies’ strong start.

Texas A&M took a 37-29 lead into halftime, thanks to their strong defense and control of the paint. The Longhorns, while not out of the game by any means, had a mountain to climb if they were going to overcome the Aggies’ physical play and assert themselves in the second half.

Second Half: Aggies Look to Seal the Deal

Coming out of the halftime break, the Aggies seemed poised to close out the game. With their lead, they continued to pound the ball inside, getting easy buckets from Coleman and Julius Marble. Texas A&M’s defense, which had stymied Texas in the first half, was relentless. Dexter Dennis, another key player for the Aggies, played exceptional defense on Marcus Carr, preventing him from getting into the rhythm that he thrives in. The Aggies stretched their lead to 12 points early in the second half, and it seemed like they were on the verge of putting the game away.

However, the Longhorns, who have been known for their resilience under head coach Chris Beard, were far from finished. Slowly but surely, Texas started to chip away at the lead, beginning with a couple of timely three-pointers from Timmy Allen and Carr. The Longhorns’ defense, which had struggled early in the game, began to tighten up as they increased their pressure on the ball and forced turnovers. The Aggies’ offense, which had been flowing smoothly in the first half, started to sputter as they struggled to break through Texas’ newfound defensive intensity.

The momentum began to swing in the Longhorns’ favor as they slowly regained their footing. Despite being down by multiple possessions, they stayed within striking distance. With each shot, rebound, and defensive stop, the Longhorns’ belief grew.

The Clutch Performances: Carr, Allen, and Rice Lead the Charge

As the game neared its final moments, the Aggies’ lead had shrunk to just four points, and Texas had all the momentum. At this point, the game became a battle of wills, with both teams digging deep to find their final reserves of energy. And it was Marcus Carr who would emerge as the hero for the Longhorns.

Carr, who had been largely quiet for most of the game, took over in the final five minutes. He hit a huge three-pointer to cut the lead to one and followed that up with a driving layup to give Texas their first lead of the game with less than two minutes remaining. Carr’s poise under pressure was evident, and his leadership on the court was exactly what Texas needed to mount the comeback.

Meanwhile, Timmy Allen, the Longhorns’ senior leader, was playing with a sense of urgency. Allen’s scoring in the paint and ability to draw fouls helped keep the Aggies on edge defensively. His energy and tenacity were contagious, and Texas fed off his determination to get back into the game.

However, it was Sir’Jabari Rice, the former New Mexico State transfer, who made the biggest play of the game. With the score tied at 69-69 and only seconds remaining, Rice received an inbounds pass near the baseline. He dribbled to the top of the key and calmly drained a jumper as the shot clock expired. The Erwin Center erupted as Texas took a one-point lead with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock.

The Final Seconds: Aggies’ Heartbreak

In what was a fittingly dramatic end to an incredible game, Texas A&M had one last chance to reclaim the lead. With the game on the line, the Aggies called a timeout to set up one final play. But Texas’ defense, which had become suffocating in the final moments, didn’t allow A&M to get a clean look. Tyrece Radford, the Aggies’ senior leader, received the ball with a chance to win, but his contested jumper at the buzzer fell short, giving Texas the hard-fought victory.

As the buzzer sounded, Texas players and fans celebrated wildly, while the Aggies were left in stunned silence. The Longhorns had completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory, taking down their top-15 rivals in front of a raucous home crowd.

Postgame Reactions: Longhorns’ Joy and Aggies’ Disappointment

After the game, Texas head coach Chris Beard praised his team’s resilience. “We didn’t play our best basketball for most of the game, but the guys never gave up. They stayed focused and kept grinding. That’s the heart of this team—toughness and grit. We found a way to win.”

Marcus Carr, who finished the game with 18 points and several key assists, reflected on his late-game heroics. “I just kept telling myself to stay confident. I’ve been in those moments before, and I knew I could make the plays. My teammates trusted me, and we came through when it mattered.”

For Texas A&M, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Head coach Buzz Williams was visibly frustrated during the postgame press conference. “We played great for 35 minutes, but we didn’t finish. In games like this, you can’t afford to lose focus. I’ll take responsibility for not getting our guys to close this one out.”

Tyrece Radford, who had 20 points for the Aggies, echoed his coach’s sentiment. “It’s tough. We had control of the game, but we didn’t execute down the stretch. We’ll learn from this, but it hurts right now.”

Looking Ahead: What This Victory Means for Texas

With the win, the Longhorns improved to 16-7 on the season, and more importantly, they gained a crucial victory over a ranked opponent. This win provides Texas with a much-needed boost in both the Big 12 standings and their NCAA Tournament resume. Chris Beard’s team showed that they can battle back in tough situations, and they’ll be a force to reckon with as they head deeper into conference play.

For Texas A&M, the loss is a hard one to swallow, especially after such a strong performance for much of the game. The Aggies are still a talented team, but this defeat highlights the importance of closing games out. As they prepare for their upcoming matchups, they’ll need to focus on finishing games with the same intensity they had for the first 35 minutes against Texas.

This game, for both teams, was a perfect example of why college basketball is so unpredictable—one moment can shift the entire course of a game. And for Texas, that shift came in the final minutes when they dug deep, kept fighting, and ultimately snatched victory from the Aggies.