Three Johnson and Tramon Mark scored 19 points each to help 13-seeded Texas to keep No. 12 Vanderbilt 79-72 on Wednesday in a Southeastern Conference tournament first round of Slugfest in Nashville, Tenn.
Longhorns won even though they did not make a field goal in the final 6:17.
Longhorn’s (18-14) saw a bubble team to make the NCAA tournament-advanced to play Rival Texas A & M in the second round on Thursday. Texas and Texas A&M shared their two matches this season.
Texas, who had dropped four of his last five matches that entered the tournament, led by 15 points at half time.
Longhorns staked its lead to as many as 18 points before Vanderbilt (20-12) went within 72-65 when Devin McGlockton met a short jump with 1:34 to play to meet a 10-2 driving. Late Free Throws of Mark and Kadin Shedrick helped Longhorns finish the victory.
Jordan Pope added 14 points, Arthur Kaluma scored 11 and Jayson Kent took 10 returns for Texas.
Vanderbilt’s Jason Edwards led all Scores with 20 points while Tyler Nickel had 14. Chris Manon hit for 12 and McGlockton finished with 10 points and 10 returns. Commodores are now waiting for their fate for the NCAA tournament.
Commodores led early before Texas rolled off 12 straight points, with a can of Shedrick that gave Longhorn’s a 15-7 advantage at the first half 11:41.
Texas increased its lead to 17 points when Kaluma’s thunderstorm dunk from a Jabstep was followed by Mark’s arrangement and two free throw by Shedrick, the latter with 1:09 left in half.
Vanderbilt got a layout and two free throw from Tyler Tanner to cut the deficit before Johnson poured into a jumper to give Texas a 41-26 advantage at the break.
Kaluma led all scorers with 11 points before half time while Johnson and Mark had nine each for Texas.
Manon’s six points went the anemic Vanderbilt attack; Commodores shot only 31 percent from the floor at half, was 1-for-9 beyond the arch and produced its smallest points during a first half all season.
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