When the going got tough, Jamal Shead unsurprisingly delivered to send No. 1 Houston to the Sweet 16.
After allowing No. 9 Texas A&M to mount a furious late comeback to force overtime on Sunday, Shead scored arguably the biggest and most aesthetically pleasing baskets of the tournament. With the Cougars nursing a two-point lead, 95-93, the senior guard executed a perfect jump stop lay-in as the shot clock expired, extending his team's slim advantage to two scores.
JAMAL SHEAD. CLUTCH.#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Q8oUnmpnXI
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2024
Shead's basket turned the final seconds into a free-throw-off, which Houston won, taking the slugfest, 100-95.
Down by as many as 13 points, Texas A&M looked dead in the water late in the second half, but a 13-3 run offered a chance at a shocking comeback. With Houston up 86-83 with 1.2 seconds remaining in the regulation, forward Andersson Garcia hit an incredible game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer, forcing the extra session.
ANDERSSON GARCIA
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2024
CLUTCH #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/m0t7CY8EmP
Houston ultimately prevailed as the Aggies ran out of steam in OT, outscored 14-9.
Shead, who finished with 21 points and a team-high 10 assists, was one of four Cougars to post double figures. L.J. Cryer had 20 points and Emanuel Sharp led the team with 30 points, including seven three-pointers (7-of-14).
With the win, Houston advances to the Sweet 16 in Dallas, where No. 4 Duke will be waiting. The Blue Devils are coming off two impressive blowout wins, including a 93-55 victory over No. 12 James Madison on Sunday.
The Cougars' victory helped mark only the fifth time since 1985 that each No. 1 and No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament advanced to the Sweet 16.
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