Texas Longhorns Defeat Syracuse in Legends Classic

The Texas Longhorns narrowly defeated the Syracuse Orange 70-66 in the first game of the UKG Legends Classic at Barclays Center, despite leading by as much as 16 points. Texas struggled in the second half as Syracuse rallied and briefly took the lead with just over six minutes remaining. Tre Johnson and Arthur Kaluma led Texas with 16 points each, while J.J. Starling was the top scorer for Syracuse with 16 points as well. The win marked Texas's first against a Power 5 opponent this season, following a strong start that included a 9-0 run. Syracuse's inability to convert free throws (9 of 18) proved costly, while the Longhorns capitalized on drives into the paint, showcasing a balanced offensive approach. The victory sets Texas up for a matchup against either St. Joseph's or Texas Tech in the next round of the tournament.