San Francisco-Darrion Williams scored the basket of a touch with 7.3 seconds remaining in extra time after drawing the game with a triple in the final regulation purposes to take Texas Tech to an 85-83 victory over Arkansas on Thursday night and a place in Elite eight.
The first extra time game of March Madness came thanks to a furious return of the Raiders (28-8) Third Seed (28-8) from 16 points to half of the second half against the Razorbs (22-14) by coach John Calipari (22-14).
Texas Tech advanced to play Florida in the final of the west region on Saturday with the opportunity of the second journey of the school in the second final of the school after losing the game for the title in Virginia in 2019.
That idea seemed crazy during most of this game, since Arkansas exploded in an early two -digit advantage and had control most of the road. The Johnell Davis tray with just under 5 minutes gave the Razorbs a 13 -point advantage.
But the Raiders closed the regulation with a 16-3 race behind three triples by Christian Anderson and three Williams baskets. The biggest arrived when it was shook in a 3 with 9.7 seconds after Jonas Aidoo had lost the front of one and one.
JT Toppin then scored to start overtime and give Texas Tech his first advantage from the first minutes and was back and forth from there, with DJ Wagner drawing Arkansas with 34 remaining 34 seconds.
Williams then scored Low to give Texas Tech leadership and Wagner’s last shot hit the front edge, sending the Raiders to a wild celebration in the middle of the court when Williams pointed to the crowd that included a contingent of his friends and family that came from Sacramento for the game.
Calipari could only get out of the court with pleasant lips and a sigh when his first season in Arkansas ended up in heartbreak after he fell to the right because he was the first coach to take four schools to the Eight Elite.
Anderson scored 22 points to lead Texas Tech, while Toppin and Williams added 20 each.
Davis scored 30 points for Razorbs and Karter Knox added 20.
No chance
The Red Raiders lacked a key player once again with the best external shooter, McMillian, losing his fourth consecutive game with an oblique injury. McMillian, who grew up in San Francisco, had hoped to play in his welcome game, but was discarded before the inauguration.
Arkansas arrived in Adou Thiero back for the first time since his left knee was injured on February 22. Thiero played five minutes.
