Texas wins First Four March madness game over…
DAYTON, Ohio — Tramon Mark hit a fadeaway jumper from just inside the 3-point line with 1.1 seconds left, and Texas survived a late rally to beat N.C. State 68-66 on Tuesday night time in a First Four matchup of power-conference groups that limped into March Madness.
Mark scored 17 factors to lead the Longhorns (19-14), who had misplaced 5 of six getting into the NCAA Tournament. Texas moved into the bracket as the No. 11 seed in the West area and will face sixth-seeded BYU on Thursday night time in Portland, Oregon.
“When you lose the last couple, what you don’t want is a continuation of holding on to those negative feelings,” Longhorns coach Sean Miller said. “It was not easy. We practiced a couple days not knowing if we were in the tournament, took a couple days off. We came up here with a clear mind, a good spirit.”
The Longhorns led 62-53 on Chendall Weaver’s two free throws with 2:56 left, but the Wolfpack (20-14) — who also misplaced 5 of six before getting despatched to Dayton — scored 10 factors in a span of 1:12. Paul McNeil Jr. hit two 3s before Mark beat the shot clock with a fadeaway.
Darrion Williams related from deep to get N.C. State within one. The Wolfpack then pressured a turnover by Dailyn Swain, and Tre Holloman made one of two free throws to tie it at 66-all.
Tramon Mark hits a fadeaway jumper from just inside the 3-point line with 1.1 seconds left to lead Texas to a 68-66 win over N.C. State in a First Four matchup on March 17, 2026. AP
Texas ran down most of the game clock before Mark related from 19 toes, and N.C. State couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.
“This one is definitely a first for me, just the way the game was going, the way the game felt,” Mark said. “We had a big lead; they started making some shots. Then I was able to silence the crowd with a big shot like that.”
Mark completed with 17 factors, Matas Vokietaitis scored 15 and Swain added 13 for the Longhorns. Weaver had his first profession double-double with 11 factors and 10 rebounds.
Williams led the Wolfpack with 21 factors. Quadir Copeland scored 16 and McNeil completed with 11.
“You are who you are in pressure moments,” Wolfpack coach Will Wade said. “We tried to mask some stuff and we couldn’t do it. That’s why we’re here, and that’s why we’re heading home.”
It was the second assembly this season between the colleges. Texas beat N.C. State 102-97 on Nov. 26 to declare fifth place in the Maui Invitational. Tuesday night time’s game was more of a defensive battle.
The Longhorns constructed a 25-15 lead but then went scoreless over the ultimate 4:06 of the first half. The Wolfpack completed the half on a 14-5 run to cut their deficit to 30-29 at halftime.
Texas is the third faculty Miller has taken to March Madness, and he’ll have to devise a plan to comprise one of the best gamers in the nation, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
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