Top-seeded Houston needs OT to avoid March Madness exit, gets by No. 9 Texas A&M 100-95
AP
Mar 25, 2024
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Houston Cougars breathed a sigh of relief celebrating their latest Sweet 16 berth.
What looked like a victory in hand turned into an overtime thriller in the span of two minutes.
Emanuel Sharp started overtime with a 3-pointer that put Houston ahead to stay as the top-seeded Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 back in Texas by topping No. 9 seed Texas A&M Aggies 100-95 on Sunday night.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson credited playing this debut season in the Big 12, filled with lots of close games, with having his Cougars ready for this game.
“We're very fortunate tonight to win. Texas A&M could’ve won that game,” Sampson said. "But only one team can advance. I've learned not to autopsy wins at this time of the year. So we move on."
The Aggies forced overtime with a furious rally, outscoring Houston 17-5 in the final two minutes of regulation. Andersson Garcia beat the buzzer with his ninth 3-pointer of the season, and then was mobbed by his teammates.
“Obviously, it's a shot that will go down in Texas A&M lore,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams said. “It was to tie. It wasn't to win, you know?”
Sampson called the final two minutes of regulation “Murphy's Law," with missed free throws and the ball bouncing everywhere.
“They didn’t miss a 3,” Sampson said. "And they didn’t make an easy one. They were all hard 3’s.”
Sharp fouled out after his 3, finishing with 30 points. His teammates outscored Texas A&M 7-1 to start the extra session and close it out.
The win by Houston (32-4) means all eight teams seeded 1 and 2 advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time since the NCAA tourney started seeding in 1979. The top eight seeds also advanced in 2019, 2009, 1995 and 1989.
The Cougars will play Duke, a 93-55 winner over James Madison, on Friday in Dallas in the South Region semifinals. This will be Houston's fifth straight Sweet 16 and 16th all-time.
They are playing in part for Reggie Chaney, a forward who was part of Houston’s Final Four team in 2021, who died in August at the age of 23. Chaney's No. 32 is on a patch on Houston jerseys, and Sampson said at halftime he asked his Cougars what would Chaney do in this game.
“That was for big Reg,” Sampson said.
Jamal Shead had 21 points and 10 assists for Houston. He was one of four Cougars who fouled out.
Shead mentioned how Sampson talked about how hard Chaney would have played, pointing to the 32 on his jersey.
“We’re built for this,” Shead said. "I just miss my dog. On to the Sweet 16.”
Texas A&M (21-15) was trying to make the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018 in its second straight NCAA Tournament under coach Buzz Williams. The Aggies had been 6-1 in March only to revert to the team that struggled offensively much of the season.
The Cougars represented the Big 12 in their first season in the conference by adding to the Southeastern Conference’s misery. Only Tennessee and Alabama advanced to the Sweet 16 out of the SEC’s eight teams in the tournament.
L.J. Cryer added 20 points, and J’Wan Roberts fought through a knee issue with 13.
Wade Taylor had been on a scoring tear and hit a career-high seven 3s in the Aggies’ win over Nebraska. The guard missed his first seven shots and finished with 21 points on 5-of-26 shooting, including 3 of 13 beyond the arc.
Tyrece Radford, who missed the December loss to Houston, had 27 points and 15 rebounds. Manny Obaseki added 15 before fouling out, and Garcia had 12.
Houston led 43-38 after a fast-paced first half.
BIG PICTURE
Texas A&M: The Aggies at least go home with a big win in the first round after leaving this tournament empty-handed a year ago. ... They set several program records in this event in the opening win, including making 13 3s. In this game, the Aggies wound up 8 of 23 outside the arc and shot 29 of 45 at the free-throw line.
Houston: The Cougars became the first team to win a tournament game with four players fouling out since 1987. ... They improved to 8-2 as a No. 1 seed. ... They now have won at least 32 games for the fifth time. Shead and fellow seniors Roberts and Ryan Elvin can try to add to their mark as the winningest four-year class in Cougars history already at 125-18. ... Coach Kelvin Sampson now is 22-1 against the Aggies, including 21-1 with the Cougars.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will have the home-court advantage against Duke on Friday night, even with Dallas a 245-mile drive from Houston. ---
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1st Half
TXAM
Aggies
38
HOU
Cougars
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Wildens Leveque vs. Ja'Vier Francis (Aggies gains possession)
19:43
+2
Manny Obaseki makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
2-0
19:18
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
19:16
Jamal Shead offensive rebound
19:05
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (J'Wan Roberts assists)
2-3
18:45
Manny Obaseki misses three point jump shot
18:43
Tyrece Radford offensive rebound
18:39
J'Wan Roberts shooting foul (Wildens Leveque draws the foul)
18:39
Wildens Leveque misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:39
+1
Wildens Leveque makes regular free throw 2 of 2
3-3
18:30
Jamal Shead turnover (bad pass) (Solomon Washington steals)
18:23
Ja'Vier Francis blocks Wade Taylor IV's two point layup
18:21
Solomon Washington offensive rebound
18:21
Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (Solomon Washington draws the foul)
18:21
+1
Solomon Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2
4-3
18:21
+1
Solomon Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2
5-3
18:06
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (J'Wan Roberts assists)
5-6
17:53
Ja'Vier Francis blocks Tyrece Radford's two point layup
17:51
Tyrece Radford offensive rebound
17:50
+2
Tyrece Radford makes two point layup
7-6
17:30
Solomon Washington shooting foul (J'Wan Roberts draws the foul)
17:30
J'Wan Roberts misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:30
+1
J'Wan Roberts makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-7
17:18
Tyrece Radford misses two point layup
17:16
Andersson Garcia offensive rebound
17:07
Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot
17:05
Cougars defensive rebound
16:54
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
16:52
Tyrece Radford defensive rebound
16:45
Solomon Washington misses three point jump shot
16:43
Andersson Garcia offensive rebound
16:26
Wade Taylor IV misses two point driving layup
16:24
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
16:13
Emanuel Sharp misses three point stepback jump shot
16:11
Solomon Washington defensive rebound
15:49
Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (Tyrece Radford draws the foul)
15:49
TV timeout
15:49
Tyrece Radford misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:49
Tyrece Radford misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:49
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
15:24
Emanuel Sharp misses two point layup
15:22
J'Wan Roberts offensive rebound
15:16
Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
15:14
Tyrece Radford defensive rebound
15:08
Emanuel Sharp personal foul (Manny Obaseki draws the foul)
15:02
+2
Tyrece Radford makes two point jump shot
9-7
14:34
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
14:32
Tyrece Radford defensive rebound
14:23
Andersson Garcia misses two point layup
14:21
Cedric Lath defensive rebound
14:21
Jump ball. (Cougars gains possession)
14:11
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
14:09
Tyrece Radford defensive rebound
14:01
Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot
13:59
Jamal Shead defensive rebound
13:52
Manny Obaseki blocks Jamal Shead's two point layup
13:50
L.J. Cryer offensive rebound
13:45
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point layup
9-9
13:27
Cedric Lath personal foul
13:24
+2
Tyrece Radford makes two point layup (Wade Taylor IV assists)
11-9
13:06
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point layup
11-11
12:47
Tyrece Radford misses two point jump shot
12:45
Damian Dunn defensive rebound
12:36
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point driving layup
11-13
12:14
Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot
12:12
Henry Coleman III offensive rebound
12:11
Damian Dunn shooting foul (Henry Coleman III draws the foul)
12:11
+1
Henry Coleman III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
12-13
12:11
+1
Henry Coleman III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-13
11:42
Mylik Wilson misses three point jump shot
11:40
Jace Carter defensive rebound
11:31
+3
Manny Obaseki makes three point jump shot (Andersson Garcia assists)
16-13
11:08
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point driving layup
16-15
10:55
Manny Obaseki misses two point jump shot
10:53
Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
10:44
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point driving layup (Jamal Shead assists)
16-17
10:44
TV timeout
10:29
+2
Andersson Garcia makes two point layup (Tyrece Radford assists)
18-17
10:05
+3
Mylik Wilson makes three point jump shot (Emanuel Sharp assists)
18-20
9:52
Manny Obaseki misses two point jump shot
9:50
Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
9:45
Manny Obaseki personal foul
9:25
Wade Taylor IV shooting foul (L.J. Cryer draws the foul)
9:25
+1
L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-21
9:25
+1
L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-22
9:05
L.J. Cryer blocks Tyrece Radford's two point layup
9:03
Tyrece Radford offensive rebound
8:57
Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot
8:57
L.J. Cryer personal foul (Tyrece Radford draws the foul)
8:57
Tyrece Radford misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:57
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
8:37
Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
8:35
L.J. Cryer offensive rebound
8:30
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point floating jump shot
18-24
8:07
+2
Jace Carter makes two point cutting layup (Andersson Garcia assists)
20-24
7:48
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (L.J. Cryer assists)
20-27
7:35
Tyrece Radford misses two point layup
7:34
Tyrece Radford offensive rebound
7:33
Tyrece Radford misses two point layup
7:32
Solomon Washington offensive rebound
7:32
J'Wan Roberts shooting foul (Solomon Washington draws the foul)
7:31
TV timeout
7:32
Solomon Washington misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:32
Solomon Washington misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:32
Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
7:31
Tyrece Radford personal foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul)
7:26
Solomon Washington blocks Jamal Shead's two point layup
7:24
Tyrece Radford defensive rebound
7:15
+2
Tyrece Radford makes two point driving layup
22-27
6:52
L.J. Cryer turnover (bad pass) (Wade Taylor IV steals)
6:47
+2
Tyrece Radford makes two point layup
24-27
6:28
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
6:26
Wade Taylor IV defensive rebound
5:59
Tyrece Radford turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals)
5:51
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Mylik Wilson assists)
24-30
5:34
Aggies 30 second timeout
5:34
TV timeout
5:17
Manny Obaseki misses two point jump shot
5:15
Andersson Garcia offensive rebound
5:08
+2
Andersson Garcia makes two point layup (Hayden Hefner assists)
26-30
5:08
Emanuel Sharp shooting foul (Andersson Garcia draws the foul)
5:08
+1
Andersson Garcia makes regular free throw 1 of 1
27-30
4:56
Solomon Washington personal foul
4:49
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
4:47
Wade Taylor IV defensive rebound
4:33
Mylik Wilson shooting foul (Henry Coleman III draws the foul)
4:33
Henry Coleman III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:33
+1
Henry Coleman III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
28-30
4:17
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
4:15
Ja'Vier Francis personal foul (Andersson Garcia draws the foul)
4:15
+1
Andersson Garcia makes regular free throw 1 of 2
29-30
4:15
+1
Andersson Garcia makes regular free throw 2 of 2
30-30
4:03
+2
Damian Dunn makes two point pullup jump shot
30-32
3:52
+2
Manny Obaseki makes two point driving layup
32-32
3:34
Damian Dunn misses three point jump shot
3:32
Mylik Wilson offensive rebound
3:25
Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
3:23
Wade Taylor IV defensive rebound
3:15
Jamal Shead shooting foul (Andersson Garcia draws the foul)
3:15
TV timeout
3:15
Andersson Garcia misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:15
+1
Andersson Garcia makes regular free throw 2 of 2
33-32
2:51
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot (L.J. Cryer assists)
33-34
2:37
L.J. Cryer shooting foul (Manny Obaseki draws the foul)
2:37
Manny Obaseki misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:37
Manny Obaseki misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:37
Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
2:30
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point driving layup
33-36
2:29
Manny Obaseki shooting foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
2:29
+1
Jamal Shead makes regular free throw 1 of 1
33-37
2:10
+2
Henry Coleman III makes two point jump shot (Tyrece Radford assists)
35-37
1:54
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot
35-39
1:39
+2
Manny Obaseki makes two point driving dunk
37-39
1:12
+2
Damian Dunn makes two point jump shot
37-41
1:03
Jamal Shead personal foul (Wade Taylor IV draws the foul)
1:03
Wade Taylor IV misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:03
+1
Wade Taylor IV makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-41
0:36
Damian Dunn misses three point jump shot
0:34
Jamal Shead offensive rebound
0:25
Jace Carter personal foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
0:25
+1
Jamal Shead makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-42
0:25
+1
Jamal Shead makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-43
0:02
Manny Obaseki misses two point jump shot
0:01
Damian Dunn defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
TXAM
Aggies
48
HOU
Cougars
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:50
Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot
19:48
Tyrece Radford offensive rebound
19:41
+2
Tyrece Radford makes two point jump shot
40-43
19:25
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
40-45
19:11
Manny Obaseki misses two point jump shot
19:09
L.J. Cryer defensive rebound
18:49
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
18:47
Manny Obaseki defensive rebound
18:41
Manny Obaseki offensive foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
18:41
Manny Obaseki turnover (offensive foul)
18:23
Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
18:21
Jace Carter defensive rebound
18:11
Tyrece Radford misses two point layup
18:10
Jace Carter offensive rebound
18:10
J'Wan Roberts shooting foul (Jace Carter draws the foul)
18:10
Jace Carter misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:10
Jace Carter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:10
Damian Dunn defensive rebound
17:52
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
40-48
17:37
Solomon Washington offensive foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul)
