1-seed Houston edges 9-seed Texas A&M Aggies in 100-95 Overtime Thriller

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POSTED: March 25, 2024 -- 11:43 a.m. CT

MEMPHIS, TN -- FedEx Forum

The Houston Cougars, the top-seed in the South Region, edged the 9-seed Texas A&M Aggies, 100-95 in overtime, Sunday night in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Tournament.

Houston (32-4) won -- despite 4 starters fouling out of the ball game. Houston becomes the first team since 1987 to win an NCAA Tournament game after 4 or more players foul out.

"That's a perfect record for Houston -- had four players foul out and still find a way to win," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said in his opening postgame session remarks.

Houston had difficulty keeping Texas A&M off the offensive glass for much of the game but especially in the first half.

The Aggies made just 2 of 9 field goal attempts in the first 3 minutes of the game; however, they grabbed 5 offensive rebounds.

Houston made 5 of 6 shot attempts but picked up 6 fouls trying to keep Texas A&M out of the paint. With 10:44 remaining in the first half, Houston led 17-16 while the Aggies were 5 for 17 from the floor and 5 for 8 at the free throw line.

Houston redshirt-sophomore Emanuel Sharp made 4 (out of 7) three-pointers in the opening half while his teammates combined to make just 1 of 7 three-point shot attempts.

Houston led 27-20. Texas A&M stayed within reach of Houston by crashing the offensive boards. The Aggies had 9 offensive rebounds on 7 for 24 field goal shooting.

After Houston's starting center, Javier Francis, picked up his third foul, Texas A&M forward Andersson Garcia made 2 foul shots to tie Houston at 30 with 4:15 until halftime.

Houston led Texas A&M 43-38 at halftime. Houston was whistled for 14 fouls in the first half; however, Texas A&M only shot 11 for 22 (50.0 ft%) from the line.

Jamal Shead, Houston senior point guard, scored 13 points in the half to lead the Coogs.

Tyrece "Boots" Radford scored 10 points to lead the Aggies.

LJ Cryer missed all 5 of his three-point attempts in the first half; but, Cryer heated up in the second half and scored 14 of his 20 points. Cryer was 3 for 5 from three in the second half.

Cryer got hit hot as Emanuel Sharp cooled off; but, Houston's offense carved up the Aggies' defense throughout the half and resulted in Houston's largest lead 74-61 with 3:49 remaining in the second half.

Houston led 83-73 with 1:24 remaining in the second half; but, Texas A&M refused to give up. The Aggies' Radford hit a long 2-point step back jumper (left foot was on the three-point line).

After Radford's basket, LJ Cryer caught the inbounds pass; and, as Cryer turned to his right, he stepped on the sideline for a turnover.

Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV swished a 3-pointer to cut Houston's lead to 83-78 with 73 seconds remaining.

Forced to foul, the Aggies fouled Emanuel Sharp. Sharp made both free throws.

Then, Cryer picked up his 5th foul when he fouled Taylor IV while Wade was attempting a 3. Taylor made all 3 free throws to whittle Houston's lead to 85-81 with 55 seconds remaining.

Sharp was fouled again. This time he made 1 of 2 free throws.

Texas A&M pushed the ball up the floor and Aggies' forward Solomon Washington scored a put back layup to cut Houston's lead to 86-83 with 44 seconds on the clock.

After a Houston 30-second timeout, Jamal Shead dribbled down the shot clock before losing the ball. With 13 seconds remaining, Taylor missed a jumper and Radford grabbed the miss. Radford missed the putback and the ball bounced out of bounds of Houston's Damian Dunn's finger tips.

Texas A&M called timeout. After the timeout, Taylor IV missed a long three-pointer. The ball caromed back to him; and, Taylor missed another 3-point shot. Houston guard Mylik Wilson pulled down the miss; however, Wilson and Texas A&M's Jace Carter both had their hands on the ball. The officials called 'Held ball'; and, the possession arrow pointed to the Aggies.

With 1.2 seconds remaining, Houston called timeout. After timeout, Andersson Garcia got open just enough after some ball screens. Radford's bounced pass the inbounds pass to Garcia. Garcia swished the 3 to tie the game at 86 and send the game into overtime.

Texas A&M erupted in jubilation and seemed to have all the momentum heading to overtime.

"When that went in," Coach Sampson said after the game. "I'm sure most people's thought process was, 'Houston screwed up, they're going to lose now.' That would have been the wrong assumption because our kids are built for that."

Houston won the jump ball to begin overtime. Jamal Shead missed a pull-up three-pointer; but, J'Wan Roberts hustled after the missed shot and got the offensive rebound.

Emanuel Sharp swished a 3-pointer for an 89-86 lead. Sharp then got a steal; and, seconds after the steal, Sharp attempted another three-pointer. The shot did not fall; and, 7 seconds later, Sharp was whistled for his 5th foul.

Tyrece Radford made 1 of 2 free throws. On Houston's next possession, Shead was fouled by Wade Taylor IV on a 3-point shot attempt. Shead made 2 of the 3 free throw attempts to increase Houston's lead to 4 (91-87).

Taylor missed a jump shot; and, Ramon Walker Jr pulled down the miss. Shead attacked the Aggies' defense before passing to teammate Mylik Wilson who was open on a baseline cut to the hoop. Wilson scored the layup for a 93-87 Houston lead with 2:27 left in OT.

Radford was fouled by Ramon Walker. Radford (again) made just 1 of 2 free throws.

Shead missed a jumper; then, Radford scored a driving layup to cut Houston's lead to 93-90 with 1:43 left in the extra session.

Houston took time off the 30-second shot clock before Damian Dunn attempted a 3-point shot. The shot missed but Ramon Walker grabbed the miss and scored a layup to stretch Houston's lead to 95-90 with just 71 seconds remaining.

Wade Taylor IV quickly responded with a three-point splash 9 seconds later.

Houston, once again, took time off the clock before Shead beat his man off the dribble and scored a short jumper in the paint for a 97-93 Houston lead with 30 seconds on the clock.

Taylor airballed a long 3 which forced the Aggies to foul Jamal Shead. Shead missed the first free throw before making the second attempt.

Houston was up 98-93 with 21 seconds to go in overtime. After a 30-second timeout by Houston, Taylor raced the ball up the court. Shead was called for his 5th foul as he had his hand in Taylor's side on Taylor's drive to the basket. Taylor made both free throws to trim Houston's lead to 98-93 with 18 seconds to go in the ball game.

With Shead fouled out, Coach Sampson put "preferred walk-on" Ryan Elvin came into the game. Elvin caught the inbounds pass and was quickly fouled. Elvin missed the first attempt; but, he swished the second free throw for a 4 point (99-95) Houston lead.

"That's the guy that we trust and is a pillar of our culture," Shead said of Ryan Elvin. "And, honestly I'm shocked that he missed one. Kudos to Ry. And way to step up."

Trailing by 4, Texas A&M called a 30-second timeout. After the timeout Tyrece Radford missed a 3-point shot; and, Houston's Mylik Wilson grabbed the miss. Wilson was fouled with 8 seconds remaining. Wilson missed the first free throw but made the second free throw for the final point of Houston's 100-95 overtime victory.

Emanuel Sharp scored a career-high 30 points to lead Houston. Sharp made 7 of his 14 three-point attempts. Jamal Shead finished the game with 21 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Shead played the entire game before he fouled with 18 seconds left in the overtime.

LJ Cryer scored 20 and J'Wan Roberts added 13 points (6 for 6 field goals) and 8 rebounds.

Tyrece Radford led the Aggies with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists. Radford missed 5 of his 11 foul shots. Texas A&M shot 29 for 45 (64.4 ft%) at the foul line.

Wade Taylor IV scored 21 points. Taylor was 5 for 26 from the floor including 3 for 13 on threes.

Texas A&M out-rebounded Houston 49-35; outscored Houston 26-18 on 2nd-chance points; and outscored Houston 13-9 in points off turnovers.

"We just found a way," Coach Sampson remarked. "All these years I've been doing this stuff, I don't know if there's a more satisfying win than tonight. Just can't tell you how proud I am of this group. Just really, really proud of this team."

NEXT: Houston's next game will be Friday, March 29, in a regional semifinal match-up against 4-seed Duke in the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Tip is set for 8:39 pm CT on CBS.

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