Three three-pointers by the NC State Wolfpack late in the game nearly overcame an eight-point lead by the Texas Longhorns in the First Four at UD Arena in Dayton on Tuesday night, but incredible late-game and late-clock shot making by graduate guard Tramon Mark willed the Horns to a 68-66 victory.
Mark scored six of his 17 points in the final 3:18 to key the win for the Horns, initially punctuated by a driving slam to put Texas up by seven points.
Free throws made after fast breaks by senior guard Chendall Weaver and junior wing Dailyn Swain appeared to put the Longhorns in position to close out the game without much drama, but 12 seconds after the made free throws by Swain, the Wolfpack hit a three.
Against full-court pressure, senior guard Jordan Pope turned the ball over and a good defensive recovery by Mark wasn’t enough to keep NC State guard Paul McNeill Jr. from hitting another three to make it a two-point game.
On an ugly offensive possession by the Longhorns, Mark saved it by hitting a trademark contested jumper before Darrion Williams hit a three with 30 seconds left. After another pass into the corner against the Wolfpack press, Swain turned it over to give NC State extra life, leading to a shooting foul called on Pope.
Guard Tre Holloman, an 80-percent free-throw shooter, missed the first and make the second to set up the potential for overtime, but Mark called game with one second remaining on another difficult, contested jumper to send Texas through to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s just routine for me, really,“ Mark said.
Neither team shot the ball well, especially compared to the previous matchup in the Maui Invitational, but Williams had a big performance for NC State scoring a game-high 21 points, countered by four Texas players scoring in double digits, led by Mark’s 17 points.
Sophomore center Matas Vokitaitis added 15 points and got to the free-throw line for 12 attempts, but also fouled out and turned the ball over twice. Swain struggled even more, going 2-of-9 shooting and turning the ball over five times while also recording a team-high four assists, hitting 8-of-9 free throws, and grabbing eight rebounds.
The more impactful performance on the glass for the Longhorns came from senior guard Chendall Weaver, who had four offensive rebounds and six defensive rebounds while scoring 11 points, eight of which came in the second half.
Texas advances to face No. 6 seed BYU at 6:25 p.m. Central on Thursday in Portland.
