Tramon Mark, Texas sink NC State in last seconds at First Four

Field Level Media|published: Wed 18th March, 24:27 2026

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Four-Texas at NC State

Mar 17, 2026; Dayton, OH, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Nic Codie (10) shoots the ball defended by NC State Wolfpack guard Tre Holloman (5) in the first half during a first four game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

DAYTON, Ohio -- Tramon Mark capped his team-leading 17-point effort by sinking a pull-up jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining, lifting Texas past North Carolina State 68-66 in an NCAA Tournament First Four thriller on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.

Matas Vokietaitis had 15 points while Chendall Weaver had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Texas (19-14), which advances as the No. 11 seed in the West Region to face No. 6 BYU on Thursday in Portland, Ore.

Dailyn Swain (13 points, eight rebounds) blocked a potential 3-pointer at the buzzer to preserve the game for the Longhorns.

Tre Holloman converted a three-point play with 1:48 remaining to draw NC State within 62-56. After a pair of Swain free throws, Paul McNeil Jr. drained a deep 3-pointer from the left baseline to bring NC State within 64-59 with 1:30 remaining. Another McNeil 3-point heave from the opposite baseline with 1:06 left cut Texas' lead to 64-62.

Mark's turnaround in the lane with 36.8 seconds remaining put the Longhorns up 66-62 before Darrion Willams answered with a trey to make it 66-65 Texas with 29.4 seconds left. Swain was double-teamed in the corner after receiving the inbounds pass and lost it out of bounds with 20.3 seconds to go.

Holloman drove to the basket and was fouled and given two free throws with 18.3 seconds left. He missed the first but hit the second for a 66-66 tie.

It was the second straight First Four for Swain and Texas coach Sean Miller. In the 2025 First Four, the two of them helped Xavier beat Texas on the same court and advance to the field of 64, where the Musketeers lost to Illinois.

Williams had 21 points and Quadir Copeland added 16 points and eight rebounds for NC State (20-14), which ends its season losing eight of the final 10 games.

Texas dominated most of the game on the boards, outrebounding NC State 45-33. The Wolfpack took advantage took advantage of an eight-minute Texas field-goal drought to close the first half down just 30-29 after trailing by 10.

--Mike Petraglia, Field Level Media

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