First Four: Texas beats NC State after Tramon Mark's game-winner with 1 second left

3 hours ago

A year after Texas lost in the First Four, the Longhorns needed a game-winner from Tramon Mark to avoid back-to-back NCAA tournament losses.

Mark hit a guarded jumper inside the 3-point line with 1.1 seconds to go to give the Longhorns a 68-66 win Tuesday night over NC State. Texas will play No. 6 BYU on Thursday in the first round of the West region.

It was the second big shot Mark hit in the final minute. He put the Longhorns up four with 37 seconds to go with a jumper from the free-throw line. But a 3-pointer from NC State’s Darrion Williams cut the lead to one and Texas turned the ball over after NC State put on a full-court press.

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The Wolfpack’s Tre Holloman got fouled after that turnover, but he made just one of two free throws to ensure Texas would at least get to overtime if Mark’s shot didn’t fall.

Before Mark buried his two shots, Texas (19-14) was staring in the face of an embarrassing collapse. The Longhorns led 64-56 with 1:42 to go before NC State (20-14) scored eight straight points to tie the game. That run came directly after Texas center Matas Vokietaitis fouled out of the game.

A season ago, Texas lost to Xavier in the First Four. That game turned out to be the last for Texas coach Rodney Terry in charge of the Longhorns. The school then hired former Arizona coach Sean Miller — the man who led Xavier to that win.

On Tuesday night, both teams shot worse than 40% from the field; Texas was just 29% from behind the arc. However, the Longhorns grabbed 45 rebounds to NC State’s 33 and also had 15 offensive rebounds.

The loss is NC State’s eighth in its past 10 games. The Wolfpack won six straight games across late January and early February before stumbling down the stretch and barely getting into the NCAA tournament.

Howard takes down UMBC, will face Michigan

Howard got the first NCAA tournament win in school history earlier Tuesday with an 86-83 victory over UMBC. The No. 16 Bison will play No. 1 Michigan on Thursday evening.

Howard led for most of the game, though UMBC staged a late push that made the Bison sweat. Ose Okojie scored 23 for Howard, while Bryce Harris clinched the game with a turnaround jumper to put the Bison up four with 13 seconds to go.

This tournament marks Howard’s fifth appearance and third in the past four seasons. The school lost in the First Four in 2024 to Wagner and has been a No. 16 seed in all five of its tournament appearances.

Live coverage is over46 updates

Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:57 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns somehow survive a late-game collapse and escape on a clutch jumper by Tramon Mark with 1.1 seconds left!
What a finish in Dayton! Texas will move on and face No. 6 BYU in the Round of 64.

Tue, March 17, 2026 at 9:08 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:52 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
There’s just 25 seconds left and we’re coming down to the wire after the two teams traded buckets on back-to-back possessions.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:47 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
It’s a one-possession game again after a 3-pointer by Paul McNeil Jr. What a clutch shot by McNeil!
There’s just 1:05 left in the game.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:43 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns are creating some separation with just under 2 minutes left on the clock.
They’re now up 62-56 and NC State’s Venn-Alle Lubin just fouled out.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:32 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
With just over 5 minutes left in the game, the Longhorns are hanging on to a one-possession lead.
Which team will close this one out and lock up a Round of 64 matchup with BYU?
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:30 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
It hasn’t been the prettiest game. So the broadcast played NC State’s title-winning play where Dereck Whittenburg put up an airball in the final seconds and Lorenzo Charles bailed him out and won the Wolfpack the title.
This was Chuck’s reaction:
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:24 PM PDT
Nick Bromberg
The Wolfpack have turned the ball over just three times themselves. But their inability to capitalize on Texas’ mistakes is a big reason the Longhorns still have a five-point lead at the under-8 timeout.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:17 PM PDT
Nick Bromberg
The Longhorns have 40 rebounds to NC State’s 28 with 9:31 to go.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:11 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The lead change was temporary. The Longhorns are back on top.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:05 PM PDT
Nick Bromberg
NC State is shooting 34% while Texas is at 32%
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:59 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
We are back for the second half and the Wolfpack has their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
It’s 34-32 with just over 16 minutes left to play.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:43 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:24 PM PDT
Nick Bromberg
The Longhorns started hot and ended the first half ice cold.
Texas is now shooting 29% from the field. NC State is at 35%. Not the prettiest half of basketball you’ll ever see.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:24 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns led by double digits at one point in the first half, but it’s just a one-point game as we head to halftime.
NC State's Darrion Williams is leading all scorers at the break with 14 points.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:20 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Wolfpack have closed the gap late in the first half and it’s a one-point game with just under a minute left.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:05 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns are still in control of this one as the first half ticks down inside the 5-minute mark. They are controlling the boards (21 to 10).
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 6:53 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns are up 19-14 as we hit the 10-minute mark in the first half. NC State’s Darrion Williams had 10 of his team’s first 12 points.
Texas is 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range so far.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 6:51 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The former Texas Tech player has 10 of the Wolfpack’s 12 points.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 6:42 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
This game should have an entertaining production for those who are fans of Chuck and Dickie V. They’re joining play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson for the duration of this one.