Tramon Mark saves Longhorns from collapse, Texas survives and advances in NCAA Tournament

· Yahoo Sports

Texas guard Tramon Mark (12) scores a 3-point basket during the first half in a First Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament against North Carolina State, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) (Kareem Elgazzar/AP)

DAYTON, Ohio - A full season later, a new head coach, yet the Longhorns still found themselves in the same place to open the NCAA Tournament.

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A play-in game in Dayton.

But unlike last year, this Texas team took care of business at University of Dayton Arena.

Barely.

Despite holding a nine-point lead with under three minutes remaining, Texas allowed NC State to crawl back into the game until Tramon Mark hit a game-winning long jumper with one second left in regulation to secure the 68-66 win in the First Four. Texas advances to face No. 6-seed BYU and projected No. 1 overall NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa Thursday at 6:25 p.m. CT in Portland.

Texas held nearly its largest lead of the game with 2:56 remaining in regulation before NC State guard Paul McNeil Jr. hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 64-62 with 1:06 to play.

When Mark hit what felt like a dagger mid-range jumper with 37 seconds remaining, the Wolfpack's Darrion Williams, who led all scorers with 21 points, made yet another 3-pointer to cut the score to 66-65 with 25 seconds remaining.

It was Texas' ball, but a turnover by leading scorer Dailyn Swain gave NC State possession with 20 seconds to play. That's when the Longhorns fouled Tre Holloman, but he only made one free throw to tie the score.

It wouldn't have mattered if he had made both because Mark put his team on his back in the game's final seconds.

Appearing in their sixth consecutive NCAA tournament, the Longhorns didn't make it easy on themselves to get there, losing five of their last six games before barely sneaking into the field. But NC State hadn't either, losing seven of its last nine.

The two stumbling opponents didn't look much more composed in front of a packed crowd in Dayton on Tuesday night to start. Two offenses that average approximately 83 points per game this season and both scored near 100 in their first meeting of the season in November, which Texas won 102-97 in the Maui Invitational, came nowhere near those numbers Tuesday.

Texas shot just 37% from the field and 29% from 3-point range. NC State shot just 39% overall and 38% from long range.

Mark led the Longhorns with 17 points, but Matas Vokietaitis, Chendall Weaver and Swain all finished in double figures. Weaver posted a double-double with 10 rebounds.

In addition to Williams' 21 points, Quadir Copeland (16 points and eight rebounds) and McNeil (11 points) aided the Wolfpack's comeback effort.

The Longhorns' win came even after they did not make a field goal for the last 8:40 of the first half. They did not score a point for the final 4:06 before halftime. Still, somehow, Texas led 30-29 at the break.

The two teams fought to the finish in a thrilling back-and-forth contest. But Mark made sure the Longhorns would advance at least one game further than last March.

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