AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Taylor Jones scored 17 points, Madison Booker added 16 and No. 5 Texas defeated Missouri 70-61 on Thursday night for its fifth straight win and 18th in a row at home.

Jones scored 11 in the first half for Texas (21-2, 7-1 Southeastern Conference), which began its home winning streak in January 2024. Booker had nine points in the third quarter, when the Longhorns outscored Missouri 19-10 and led for the first time.

Rori Harmon made a jumper with 2:39 left and Shay Holle followed with a 3-pointer 22 seconds later, giving Texas an eight-point lead. Harmon secured the win with two free throws with 38 seconds remaining.

Laniah Randle led Missouri (12-11, 1-7) with 22 points. Grace Slaughter scored 16.

Takeaways

Jones and Booker lead No. 5 Texas past Missouri 70-61 for Longhorns' 18th straight home win | iNFOnews.ca — Texas forward Madison Booker (35) shoots past Missouri forward Angelique Ngalakulondi (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Missouri: The Tigers are improving. Their first six SEC losses were by an average of 18 points, only one by fewer than 15. Then they beat Mississippi State 78-77 and were competitive with Texas.

Texas: Booker has averaged 20.8 points in five games since missing 16 of 19 shots in a loss at South Carolina on Jan. 12. … Forwards Aaliyah Moore and Justice Carlton missed the game Thursday with the flu. … Senior guard Laila Phelia will apply for an NCAA medical redshirt season. Phelia, an all-Big Ten guard for Michigan last season, suffered a detached retina in the offseason and played in eight games for Texas.

Key moment

Missouri led 32-21 after a layup and free throw by Randle with 4:21 left in the first half. Texas responded with a 12-3 push to finish the half, starting with its first 3-point basket by Jordan Lee.

Key stat