The Texas Longhorns Men's Basketball team might have some rough edges, but they proved their resilience by edging out NC State 68-66 in the First Four matchup in Dayton, Ohio. Despite a shaky finish where Texas saw a nine-point lead evaporate in the last three minutes, Tramon Mark's clutch jumper with just 1.1 seconds on the clock sealed the deal.
With this victory, Texas officially punches their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, snagging the No. 11 seed in the West Region. Up next, they face No. 6 seed BYU in Portland, Oregon on Thursday.
Mark's game-winner was no fluke; it marked his fifth decisive shot of the season, highlighting his knack for stepping up when it counts. His performance accounted for over a quarter of the Longhorns' victories this season.
After building a solid lead late in the second half, Texas struggled against NC State's relentless full-court press. But as the Wolfpack clawed their way back, it was Mark who kept his cool, sinking two crucial jumpers in the final minute to secure the win.