Tech Tech Rollies from 16 all the way down to beat the Arkansas within the first OT sport to March Madness

Darrion Williams was unable to barely shoot for the primary half-hour. He was not lacking extra, sending Texas Tech in an unlikely level in Eight elite.

Williams scored the journey basket with 7.3 seconds left in extraordinary after having tied the sport with a 3-pointer within the ultimate seconds of the ultimate regulation to conduct Texas Tech to a victory of 85-83 over the Arkansas on Thursday night.

“The staff of the staff is Darrion Williams,” stated coach Grant McCasland. “It’s only a resilient boy. I can not even clarify it. I consider in him as a result of I believe he’ll discover a manner in eventualities of a sport to do all the pieces you want to win. I actually do it. Everything you want.”

The first extraordinary match of March Madness got here due to a livid return of the pink raiders of the third seed (28-8) from 13 factors down with lower than 5 minutes left towards the rasors of the tenth seed of the coach John Calipari (22-14).

The Texas Tech superior to play Florida with the best seed within the ultimate of the western area on Saturday with a chance on the second journey of Final Four of the varsity after shedding the sport of the title in Virginia in 2019.

That thought appeared far -fetched for many of this sport whereas Arkansas broke out in two digits prematurely and had a lot management, main as much as 16 factors within the second half.

“In confusion, coach stated we’ll discover a strategy to win this, irrespective of how a lot we’re down,” stated Guardia Christian Anderson. “As a staff we had that side, we aren’t shedding this sport, it doesn’t matter what … we needed to discover a strategy to make it occur. And in the long run we did, so it was so.”

Williams helped Will the Red Raiders alongside the stretch after opening the sport by lacking 13 of his 15 photographs in entrance of an excellent contingent of his family and friends who got here from sacrament for the sport.

But the Red Raiders closed the regulation with a race of 16-3 behind three 3 episodes by Anderson and three Cestini of Williams. The largest got here when he shook a 3 with 9.7 seconds left after Jonas Aidio had misplaced the entrance of 1 and one.

Williams had misplaced eight of his first 9 makes an attempt from 3 earlier than.

“Obviously they weren’t coming into, however I used to be taking pictures open ones,” stated Williams. “They will fall.”

Jt Toppin then marked to start out extraordinary and provides Texas Tech his first benefit from the opening minutes and went forwards and backwards from there, with Dj Wagner who linked him for the Arkansas with 34 seconds left.

Williams then scored on the backside to present Texas Tech the command and the final blow of Wagner hit the entrance edge, sending the Red Raiders in a wild celebration in Midcourt whereas Williams indicated the gang after the third largest return within the historical past of Sweet 16.

Calipari might solely go away the sector with rippled lips and a sigh whereas his first season at Arkansas ended within the damaged coronary heart after being wanting being the primary coach to deliver 4 faculties to the Eight Elite.

“We are all disenchanted right here,” stated Calipari. “But I instructed them, there may be nothing individually or my staff might do to disappoint me due to what they did this 12 months. I’m so happy with them.”

Anderson scored 22 factors to information Texas Tech, whereas Toppin and Williams added 20 every.

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

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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