Jordan Pope's late jumper seals Texas' win over LSU

Dailyn Swain scored 21 points and got 10 rebounds and Jordan Pope added 18 points that included a huge basket in the final seconds as Texas outlasted LSU 88-85.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In a Southeastern Conference clash in Austin, Texas, the Texas Longhorns defeated the LSU Tigers 88-85 on Tuesday. Texas led by as many as 17 points late in the first half and by 16 four minutes after halftime before LSU rallied to make it a close game. Jordan Pope hit a crucial jumper with 33.6 seconds left to give Texas a 87-82 lead, and they were able to hold on for the victory. Dailyn Swain led Texas with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Pope added 18 points. LSU's Max Mackinnon led all scorers with 27 points in the losing effort.

Why it matters

This was an important conference win for the Texas Longhorns, who have now won a season-high five straight games and six of their past seven. The victory keeps them in the hunt for a strong finish to the SEC regular season. For LSU, the loss extends their losing streak to four games and 11 of their past 13 outings, as they continue to struggle in conference play.

The details

Texas jumped out to a big lead in the first half, going up by as many as 17 points before taking a 48-33 advantage into halftime. The Longhorns shot 63% from the floor and 6-for-9 from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes. LSU fought back in the second half, closing the gap to 65-61 with 10 minutes to play. Texas rebuilt a 10-point lead, but LSU rallied again, cutting the deficit to 85-82 with 1:39 left. That's when Jordan Pope hit a crucial jumper to push the lead back to 5 points, and Texas was able to hold on for the win.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Dailyn Swain

A Texas player who scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the game.

Jordan Pope

A Texas player who scored 18 points, including a key jumper in the final seconds to seal the win for the Longhorns.

Max Mackinnon

An LSU player who led all scorers with 27 points in the losing effort.

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What’s next

Texas will look to extend their winning streak when they face another SEC opponent on Saturday. LSU will try to snap their losing skid in their next conference matchup.

The takeaway

This was a hard-fought game that saw Texas build a big lead, only for LSU to mount a furious comeback. In the end, the Longhorns' ability to make key plays down the stretch, like Jordan Pope's clutch jumper, proved to be the difference as they held on for the victory.