The Texas Longhorns narrowly escaped with a win over NC State in Tuesday night's First Four matchup, but not without a bit of drama that fans at home didn't get to see. With just 1.1 seconds left on the clock, Texas guard Tramon Mark nailed a clutch go-ahead shot. The excitement was palpable, but it led to a near-disastrous moment when Longhorns assistant Ryan Anderson prematurely rushed onto the court, thinking the game was sealed.
Head coach Sean Miller was far from pleased with Anderson's untimely celebration. It was a slip that could have given NC State a chance to tie the game.
Luckily for Texas, the referees didn't call a foul before NC State managed to call a timeout. Miller's frustration was evident, and it's clear this incident will serve as a critical lesson for the team moving forward.
Despite holding a comfortable double-digit lead late in the game, Texas found themselves in a nail-biter, ultimately clinching a 68-66 victory. While they managed to advance to face BYU, relying on luck isn't a strategy that usually works in the NCAA Tournament.
This marks Texas' second consecutive First Four appearance and their sixth straight year in the tournament. Their best run in recent memory was an Elite Eight appearance back in 2023. As they move forward, the Longhorns will need to tighten up if they hope to make another deep run.