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

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

“The center of the workforce is Darrion Williams,” coach Grant McCasland mentioned. “He simply is a resilient man. I am unable to even clarify it. I put religion in him as a result of I do imagine that he’ll discover a means in one-game situations to do no matter it takes to win. I actually do. No matter it takes.”

The primary additional time sport of March Insanity got here due to 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 last on Saturday with an opportunity on the faculty’s second Closing 4 journey after shedding the title sport to Virginia in 2019.

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

“Within the huddle, Coach mentioned we will discover a option to win this regardless of how a lot we’re down,” guard Christian Anderson mentioned. “As a workforce we had that look, we’re not shedding this sport it doesn’t matter what. … We needed to discover a option 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 pictures in entrance of a big 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 largest 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 moving into, however I used to be taking pictures open ones”, Williams mentioned. “They’re going to fall.”

JT Toppin then scored to begin additional time and provides Texas Tech its first lead because the 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 present 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 courtroom with pursed lips and a sigh as his first season at Arkansas resulted in 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 mentioned. “However I advised them, there’s nothing them individually or my workforce may do to disappoint me due to what they’ve performed this 12 months. I am so pleased with them.”

Anderson scored 22 factors to steer 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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