Texas
DAYTON, Ohio (03/17/2026) — Tramon Mark drilled a 19-foot jumper with one second remaining, delivering a dramatic victory for the Texas Longhorns as they survived a furious late rally to defeat the NC State Wolfpack, 68-66, at UD Arena.
Mark’s game-winner capped a 17-point performance and pushed the Longhorns forward in a postseason battle that was contested until the final horn. Texas controlled the glass with a dominant rebounding performance, which proved decisive in a game where both offenses struggled to find consistent rhythm.
How It Happened
The Longhorns established their intent early, answering an opening basket from NC State’s Darrion Williams with a 9-0 run. The surge was fueled exclusively by long-range shooting, with Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope, and Camden Heide all connecting from beyond the arc to give Texas a 9-2 lead less than five minutes into the game. The Longhorns continued to build their advantage, with another three-pointer from Mark pushing the lead to 22-14 with 9:45 left in the first half.
But the Wolfpack refused to fold. Led by the stellar shooting of Williams, who scored 21 points on the night, NC State methodically chipped away at the deficit. Williams hit a pair of crucial three-pointers in the first half to keep his team within striking distance. A layup from Ven-Allen Lubin with just over a minute before the break cut the Texas lead to a single point, sending the teams into halftime with the Longhorns narrowly ahead, 30-29.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair. NC State briefly seized the lead, 34-32, on a three-pointer from Paul McNeil Jr. at the 18:11 mark. The teams traded blows for much of the period, with neither able to create significant separation. A dunk from Mark with 3:18 remaining gave Texas a 60-53 lead, its largest of the half, but the Wolfpack had one final run.
McNeil Jr. caught fire, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to pull NC State within two at 64-62 with 1:06 to play. After a pair of Texas free throws, Williams drained a clutch 25-foot three-pointer with 30 seconds left, making it a one-point game at 66-65 and setting the stage for the final possession.
Turning Point
With the game on the line, Texas put the ball in the hands of its go-to scorer. After NC State’s Darrion Williams electrified the crowd by cutting the Longhorns' lead to 66-65, Texas worked the clock down for a final shot. Tramon Mark created space and rose up for a pull-up jumper from just inside the arc, sinking the shot with 1.1 seconds left to play. The basket provided the final 68-66 margin, sealing the win as NC State’s desperation heave fell short.
Star of the Game
While several Longhorns made crucial contributions, guard Tramon Mark was the undisputed star. He led Texas with 17 points, adding 5 rebounds and 2 assists, but his value transcended the box score. His timely baskets throughout the contest, culminating in the game-winning shot, were the difference.
Forward Chendall Weaver was a force on the interior, posting a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Matas Vokietaitis added 15 points and 8 boards, while Dailyn Swain filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and a team-high 4 assists.
What It Means
For the Texas Longhorns, it's a gritty win that demonstrates their resilience. They survived despite shooting just 37% from the field and 29% from three-point range. Their victory was forged on the backboards, where they outrebounded NC State by a commanding 45-33 margin. That advantage on the glass was critical in overcoming 12 turnovers and a hot-shooting Wolfpack squad.
For the NC State Wolfpack, it’s a heartbreaking end to a hard-fought contest. They received a game-high 21 points from Darrion Williams and clutch late shots from Paul McNeil Jr., who finished with 11 points. The Wolfpack shot a superior 38% from deep and committed only 7 turnovers, but could not overcome the rebounding disparity or find an answer for Mark's final shot. Their season comes to a close after a memorable postseason push.