Senior guard Jordan Pope broke out of a conference mini-slump with a game-high 28 points in Saturday\u2019s extended but thrilling 92-88 upset of the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide by the Texas Longhorns in Tuscaloosa for the first conference win under first-year head coach Sean Miller.<\/p>\n
After scoring nine points in the loss to Mississippi State and going scoreless in 13 minutes in Tuesday\u2019s loss to Tennessee, Pope was sensational against Alabama, taking advantage of poor pick-and-roll defense to hit 6-of-13 three-point attempts in addition to getting to the line to connect on all six of his free-throw attempts. Four of those free throws came in the final 11 seconds to secure the win after dealing with foul trouble in the second half.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, Jordan Pope had a really big night tonight, and in a couple of our best moments this season, Jordan has really been on top, so it was great to see him, as a senior, rise to the challenge and have a big night,\u201d Miller said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pope\u2019s calm execution at the free-throw line helped the Longhorns avoid blowing a 13-point lead with 11:27 remaining. A 7-0 run by Alabama helped narrow the deficit and eventually tie the game at 74-74, but Texas did enough to take advantage of its opportunities at the free-throw line in scoring 14 of the team\u2019s final 18 points at the charity stripe despite going 13-of-22 from the line in the second half.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we got to the foul line in the second half and when we really needed a couple baskets, we were able to get them,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n Those baskets included a driving layup by junior wing Dailyn Swain to take a five-point lead with 2:08 remaining and a fast-break layup by graduate guard Tramon Mark after a defensive rebound.<\/p>\n In an indication of the team\u2019s improved effort, the Horns won the offensive rebounding battle 18-13 and turned that into a 20-12 edge in second-chance points, one of the key areas where Texas was able to secure enough separation to win.<\/p>\n