AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a relentless parade to the free throw line and a decisive rebounding advantage, the Texas Longhorns outlasted the South Carolina Gamecocks 84-75 in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball matchup Tuesday night at the Frank Erwin Center.

A crowd of 10,286 saw the Longhorns, who entered as heavy favorites, methodically pull away in the second half behind a combination of efficient offense and physical interior play. The victory improved Texas to 14-9 overall, while South Carolina fell to 11-12.

The most critical phase of the contest came in the latter stages of the second half, as Texas transformed a narrow advantage into a comfortable lead. Leading 63-59 with just over seven minutes remaining, the Longhorns engineered a pivotal 7-0 run. The surge was capped by a Camden Heide 3-pointer, assisted by Simeon Wilcher, pushing the Texas lead to 70-59 with 6:36 left. South Carolina, which had hung within striking distance for much of the night behind the heroic efforts of guard Meechie Johnson, could not muster a sustained response to close the gap back to a single possession.

Texas secured the win by dominating two key statistical categories: free throw attempts and offensive rebounding. The Longhorns attempted 36 free throws, making 29, compared to South Carolina’s 24 attempts, of which they made 19. Furthermore, Texas controlled the glass with 15 offensive rebounds, leading to numerous second-chance opportunities and extending possessions, while South Carolina managed only six.

The Longhorns’ offensive efficiency, measured at 121.6 points per 100 possessions, outpaced South Carolina’s 111.3, despite the Gamecocks shooting a higher percentage from the field. Texas compensated for its 24-of-56 shooting by connecting on 7 of 19 from 3-point range and capitalizing at the charity stripe.

Johnson, a guard from Cleveland, Ohio, delivered a spectacular performance in a losing effort, scoring a game-high 35 points on 12-of-24 shooting and dishing out six assists in 34 minutes. He repeatedly attacked the basket, drawing fouls and keeping the Gamecocks within reach. For Texas, forward Dailyn Swain of Columbus, Ohio, led a balanced attack with 22 points, while Tramon Mark added 18 and Camden Heide contributed 12.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with South Carolina taking an early lead before Texas settled in. The Gamecocks led 31-35 at halftime, but the Longhorns emerged from the break with greater aggression. They outscored South Carolina 49-44 in the second half, gradually wearing down the visitors with their size and depth.

South Carolina’s interior defense was stout at times, scoring 46 points in the paint to Texas’ 30 and blocking three shots. However, the Longhorns’ ability to generate extra shots via offensive boards and their proficiency in converting free throws proved to be the ultimate difference. Texas also capitalized on mistakes, scoring 17 points off 11 South Carolina turnovers.

The Gamecocks, coming off a narrow overtime loss to LSU, showed resilience but ultimately could not overcome Texas’s physical advantages and consistent execution down the stretch. The Longhorns, who had defeated Oklahoma in their previous outing, used the victory to solidify their position in the conference standings as they head into a weekend matchup against Mississippi.

South Carolina will look to rebound at home against Missouri on Saturday.