AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — The Texas Longhorns cruised to a 95-69 victory over the Southern Jaguars in a nonconference men’s basketball game Monday night at Frank Erwin Center. Texas, leading 46-27 at halftime, never trailed before a crowd of 10,410. The Longhorns improved to 7-3 this season, while Southern fell to 4-5. Texas outperformed Southern in both halves, shooting efficiently from the floor to secure the win. The result followed the pregame expectation, as Texas was a heavy favorite. Southern’s next game is at Texas State on Wednesday, while Texas travels to face Connecticut on Friday.

AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — The Texas Longhorns, led by a dominant performance from center Matas Vokietaitis, methodically dispatched the visiting Southern Jaguars 95-69 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Monday night at the Frank Erwin Center. A crowd of 10,410 watched the Longhorns improve to 7-3 on the season, while Southern fell to 4-5. The most important part of the game was Texas’s immediate and overwhelming response to Southern’s early challenge. The Jaguars, coming off a high-scoring win, showed no intimidation in the opening minutes, aggressively attacking the basket and forcing multiple Texas turnovers. The Longhorns’ offense initially sputtered with missed shots and uncharacteristic errors, allowing Southern to hang within a single possession for the first three minutes. However, the game’s trajectory shifted decisively with a 12-0 Texas run midway through the first half. The surge was fueled by stifling defense that capitalized on Southern’s ball-handling struggles, converting turnovers into easy transition opportunities. The run, which expanded a narrow 8-6 lead to a commanding 20-6 advantage, essentially put the game out of reach for the Jaguars. Southern never recovered from that burst, as Texas continued to build its lead, entering halftime with a 46-27 cushion and never allowing the margin to dip below 17 points in the second half. Vokietaitis, a 7-foot sophomore from Marijampole, Lithuania, was the game’s standout performer, scoring a game-high 28 points on efficient 9-of-12 shooting from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. He added five rebounds and a block in just 24 minutes, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. His performance continued a strong stretch of play, following a 16-point, three-block outing against Chaminade last week. He was complemented by a balanced Texas attack. Guard Jordan Pope added 18 points, while Simeon Wilcher provided 14 points off the bench. Dailyn Swain filled the stat sheet with 10 points, five assists and three steals, and Camden Heide also chipped in 11 points. Southern was paced by forward Malek Abdelgowad, who scored 17 points in 18 minutes. Michael Jacobs added 11 points and three assists, and AJ Barnes finished with 10 points. The Jaguars struggled with Texas’s length and pressure, committing 18 turnovers which the Longhorns converted into 28 points. Texas shot 56% from the field for the game and made 22 of 26 free throws. Southern managed just 41% shooting and was hampered by 5-of-12 shooting from the foul line. The Longhorns also dominated points in the paint, outscoring the Jaguars 52-30. The victory allowed Texas to rebound from a home loss to Virginia last week. The Longhorns now look ahead to a marquee road test at Connecticut on Friday. Southern, which has faced a difficult early schedule with road games at Arkansas, Marquette and now Texas, will travel to face Texas State on Wednesday. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Texas entered the game with a 96.90% probability to win. The Longhorns covered the pregame spread of -22.5, and the total score of 164 went under the over/under line of 154.5.

Preview: Southern Jaguars at No. -- Texas Longhorns AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — The Southern Jaguars, riding a two-game win streak, face a significant step up in competition when they visit the Texas Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Center on Monday night. Southern (4-4) is coming off a dominant 101-48 home victory over Louisiana Christian on Dec. 1, but its record reveals a team still seeking consistency. The Jaguars have struggled on the road, with all four losses coming away from home, including a double-overtime defeat at Washington. Their offense, however, has shown a high ceiling, scoring over 100 points three times this season. The catalyst is guard Michael Jacobs, who enters in stellar form. Over his last five games, Jacobs is averaging 22.6 points and 5.0 assists, including a 22-point, 9-assist effort in a narrow road win at Northwestern State on Nov. 29. His backcourt play will be critical against Texas’s pressure. The Longhorns (6-3), receiving votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, look to rebound from a disappointing 88-69 home loss to Virginia on Dec. 3. That defeat snapped a two-game win streak that included a 102-97 shootout victory over North Carolina State. Texas is led by versatile wing Dailyn Swain, who has been a consistent force. Swain is averaging 17.6 points over his last five contests, highlighted by a 26-point performance against Rider on Nov. 18. His ability to impact the game on both ends will be a key matchup. This contest represents a classic clash of styles. Southern’s up-tempo, high-scoring attack, averaging 92.1 points per game, will test a Texas defense that allowed 88 points in its last outing. Conversely, the Longhorns’ size and athleticism in the frontcourt could challenge a Southern team that has been outrebounded in several losses. For the Jaguars, a competitive showing in Austin would provide a major confidence boost before a daunting stretch that includes games at Baylor and Illinois later this month. For Texas, this is a final tune-up before a marquee non-conference showdown at No. -- Connecticut on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.