The moment finally came for graduate guard Tramon Mark to make his Texas debut.

Mark transferred to Texas after three seasons with Houston and one with Arkansas as the No. 22 prospect out of the transfer portal, per 247Sports, but his early season was cut due to an ankle injury picked up during a pre-season scrimmage against Colorado.

Fans waited four games to see the All-SEC third team honoree in burnt orange, and though his first time on the court wasn’t at the Moody Center, he impacted the game. Mark made his debut in the early minutes of Texas’ UKG Legends Classic 70-66 win over Syracuse in New York.

Mark wasn’t the only player to make his debut at the Barclays Center. Freshman forward Nic Codie made his collegiate debut, leaving freshman guard Anthon McDermott and sophomore forward Malik Presley as the only two names on the roster yet to have their first appearance for Texas.

While Codie, playing with a left-knee brace, didn’t record any statistics in his three minutes of game time, Mark scored six points through two three-pointers in the first half but ultimately failed to score more in his 19 minutes of playing time.

Senior forward Arthur Kaluma, who cemented his place in the starting lineup, led the Longhorns with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, followed by freshman guard Tre Johnson with 16 points and one rebound, proving his quality once again after already being named SEC Freshman of the Week in week one. Kaluma had already reached double figures before the end of the first half, while Johnson neared it with eight points.

Texas established an 11-point lead going into halftime, but Syracuse found its way back into the game, eventually tying the score at 56-56. With Syracuse joining the game offensively, the Texas attack lost power. 

The last five minutes of the game were back-and-forth between an even scoreboard and a small lead, with Syracuse getting its first lead in the last three minutes of the game at 61-60, but Texas quickly fought back to regain the small advantage.

In a competitive finish, the Longhorns managed to secure the win with Johnson scoring the last four points in free throws.

Texas will play Saint Joseph matchup tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. and will be back at home on Friday after Thanksgiving day to host Delaware State.