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adam ritenberg
multiple authors
Dayton, Ohio – The moment was coming texas.
Unable to handle the press or, seemingly, the pressure, the Longhorns had finally lost the lead, and their best defensive effort of the season was potentially about to go to waste. nc state The score was tied at 66 with 20.8 seconds remaining Tuesday night in their First Four game at UD Arena.
“When you get into March and you’re in this tournament, the severity of whether or not you’re going to be able to advance can sometimes weigh on a player’s mind,” Texas coach Sean Miller said.
but sixth year senior traman markThe mind was strong. As the final seconds ticked away, Mark liked his look, even with NC State trey holloman Stay hidden. He rose up from the right wing, and the ball turned in with 1.1 seconds left. Texas survived 68–66, keeping its season slightly longer.
The No. 11 seed Longhorns advance to face No. 6 BYU Thursday in a first-round West Region matchup at the NCAA Tournament in Portland, Oregon.
“I protect T-Mark every day [in practice]And he makes those shots on me,” Texas guard chendal weaver Said.
Holloman became Mark’s victim this time. Mark finished with a team-high 17 points, including four in the final 37 seconds after NC State got hot from long range.
According to ESPN Research, Mark’s last jumper marked the fourth game-winner of his career in less than five seconds, and his first since 2025 against Texas A&M.
“It’s definitely [best] For me,” Mark said. “The way the game was going, the way the game was going, we had a big lead, they started making some shots. And then I was able to shut the crowd up with a big shot like that.”
In fact, the big shots came late for both teams, after a game that was very similar to the teams’ first meeting. In that contest at the Maui Invitational in November, Texas and NC State combined to score 199 points and make 25 3-pointers, including 16 for the victorious Longhorns.
Tuesday brought a dramatically different complexion until the final minutes. Texas did not make a field goal for the final 8:40 of the first half, and its lead was down to one at the break. No team reached 50 points until Texas Central Matus Vokiaitis Made the free throw with 7:42 remaining.
NC State had only three 3-pointers in the first 58:29 and then matched that with two shots in a minute Paul McNeil Jr.. and from the second Darrian Williams.
“This might be, maybe, the first game that I can really look at and say we won because of our defense,” Miller said. “When you play this year’s team, NC State, you have to defend the 3-point shot. And if you really look at the game all the way to the end, that’s the thing we did best, and I think that’s what we can focus on as we leave here.”
Miller also acknowledged how tight the gap was on Tuesday and throughout the NCAA Tournament. They played better than Texas teams in the tournament on Tuesday and went home for good.
His first Longhorns team did not fare well in close games and suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime to Oklahoma to clinch the regular season. But Miller also knows there’s always an opportunity to play with players like Mark.
“As is often the case in this tournament, the players make the plays,” Miller said. “And we’re here largely because that guy, Tramon Mark, made two incredible shots.”
Texas needed Marks and Weaver, who recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He provided a bench boost by being top scorer one night daleen swain Struggled with his shot (2 of 9).
“I always tell them I have their support and tonight, they have my support,” Swain said. “But I couldn’t play my best game chendal weaver“The biggest impact on the court, and Trayvon Mark, when he made that shot, I knew it was good.”
Miller won the First Four for the second consecutive year with a different team. Last year, he guided Xavier to a game at Texas, which he called “one of the greatest games” he had seen. This time, his Longhorns prevailed after an even better finish.
Although last year’s
“The power is in playing the game in this tournament,” Miller said. “Sometimes a player or a team isn’t themselves. It’s just kind of like that. I don’t want to say nervous, but March Madness is big. Our nervousness can sometimes settle through Game 1. You can gain confidence… but we definitely have to play better than we did tonight.”
