Texas Tech rallies from 16 down to beat Arkansas in first OT game in March Madness

Darrion Williams may barely make a shot for the primary half-hour. He did not miss when it mattered most, sending Texas Tech to an inconceivable spot within the Elite Eight.

Williams scored the go-ahead basket with 7.3 seconds left in extra time after tying the sport with a 3-pointer within the closing seconds of regulation to guide Texas Tech to an 85-83 win over Arkansas on Thursday night time.

“The guts of the group is Darrion Williams,” coach Grant McCasland stated. “He simply is a resilient man. I can not even clarify it. I put religion in him as a result of I do consider that he’ll discover a manner in one-game eventualities to do no matter it takes to win. I truthfully do. No matter it takes.”

The primary extra time recreation of March Insanity got here because of a livid comeback by the third-seeded Red Raiders (28-8) from 13 factors down with lower than 5 minutes left in opposition to coach John Calipari’s Tenth-seeded Razorbacks (22-14).

Texas Tech superior to play top-seeded Florida within the West Area closing on Saturday with an opportunity on the faculty’s second Remaining 4 journey after dropping the title recreation to Virginia in 2019.

That concept appeared far-fetched for many of this recreation as Arkansas broke out to a double-digit lead early and was in management a lot of the manner, main by as many as 16 factors within the second half.

“Within the huddle, Coach stated we will discover a solution to win this regardless of how a lot we’re down,” guard Christian Anderson stated. “As a group we had that look, we’re not dropping this recreation it doesn’t matter what. … We needed to discover a solution to make it occur. And on the finish we did, in order that was it.”

Williams helped will the Purple Raiders down the stretch after opening the sport by lacking 13 of his 15 photographs in entrance of a giant contingent of his family and friends that got here from Sacramento for the sport.

However the Purple Raiders closed regulation with a 16-3 run behind three 3-pointers from Anderson and three baskets from Williams. The most important got here when he rattled in a 3 with 9.7 seconds left after Jonas Aidoo had missed the entrance finish of a one-and-one.

Williams had missed eight of his first 9 makes an attempt from 3 earlier than that make.

“Clearly they weren’t getting in, however I used to be taking pictures open ones”, Williams stated. “They will fall.”

JT Toppin then scored to start out extra time and provides Texas Tech its first lead for the reason that opening minutes and it went backwards and forwards from there, with D.J. Wagner tying it for Arkansas with 34 seconds left.

Williams then scored down low to provide Texas Tech the lead and Wagner’s final shot hit the entrance rim, sending the Purple Raiders right into a wild celebration at midcourt as Williams pointed to the gang following the third-biggest comeback in Candy 16 historical past.

Calipari may solely stroll off the court docket with pursed lips and a sigh as his first season at Arkansas led to heartbreak after he fell simply wanting being the primary coach to take 4 colleges to the Elite Eight.

“We’re all disillusioned right here,” Calipari stated. “However I advised them, there’s nothing them individually or my group may do to disappoint me due to what they’ve executed this 12 months. I am so pleased with them.”

Anderson scored 22 factors to guide Texas Tech, whereas Toppin and Williams added 20 apiece.

Johnell Davis scored 30 factors for the Razorbacks and Karter Knox added 20.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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