STORRS, Conn. — Connecticut lost its coach this week, but found its swagger.

Jerome Dyson scored a career-high 32 points and the Huskies overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to upset top-ranked Texas 88-74 yesterday.

Kemba Walker had 19 points and 10 assists, and Stanley Robinson added 17 points and 12 rebounds for UConn (13-6), which again was without coach Jim Calhoun, who missed his second game on a doctor-ordered leave of absence.

“We’ve got to play for him,” said Dyson, who said Calhoun was proud and excited on the phone after the game. “We know these wins will help him get better, because it will take some of the stress off him having to worry about us, and he can focus on getting himself better.”

It was the Longhorns’ second consecutive loss after winning their first 17 games, and all but ensures that Texas will fall from the top spot in the poll tomorrow.

“I think it has been great for the younger guys to go through this and realize that . . . at this time of year, the intensity has got to go up,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said.

The win likely will put the Huskies back into the Top 25 after they missed the poll for the first time in 36 weeks.

“You just beat the No. 1 team in the country,” said George Blaney, Calhoun’s longtime assistant, who is running the team in his absence, “so that should tell you that you’re good.”

Damion James had 23 points and seven rebounds for Texas (17-2), and Avery Bradley added 15 points for the Longhorns.

“It’s tough, and I’d be lying to you if I said it ain’t,” said James. “We’ll get back on a roll now. . . . Maybe this is what it takes to bring us back down to reality.”