The opening night of the NCAA Tournament, known as March Madness, delivered unforgettable drama as Howard University celebrated a historic first victory and the University of Texas snatched a last-second triumph in the First Four games on Tuesday.
Howard's Landmark Victory Over UMBC
Bryce Harris emerged as the hero for Howard, scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, including a crucial turnaround jumper with just 13 seconds remaining. This clutch play sealed an 86-83 win over UMBC, marking the Bison's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in program history. Howard had previously held an 0-4 record in March Madness, making this breakthrough a monumental achievement for the team and its supporters.
Ose Okojie also shone brightly, pouring in a career-high 23 points to lead the Bison, who finished the season with a 24-10 record. Despite a late rally from the Retrievers (24-9), Howard managed to hold on for the win. Coach Kenneth Blakeney expressed his pride, stating, 'We've done a lot of things in our program, but let's check off the box of winning an NCAA game today.'
Late-Game Tension and Key Plays
The final moments were tense as DJ Armstrong Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 43 seconds left, bringing UMBC within two points at 83-81. After Harris's jumper extended Howard's lead to four, Jah'Likah King responded with a layup to make it 85-83. Isaiah Brown then made one of two free throws, and Armstrong missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, securing Howard's trip to Buffalo, New York, as the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region.
Reflecting on the nerve-wracking finish, Blakeney said, 'Run, clock, run. We went from, I want to say, a three-possession game to a two-possession game to a one-possession game.' This victory adds to Blakeney's impressive tenure, having led Howard, a premier historically Black university, to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearances in both 2023 and 2024.
Texas's Dramatic Win Against NC State
In another thrilling First Four matchup, Tramon Mark delivered a game-winning shot with only one second left, propelling Texas to a narrow victory over NC State. Mark finished with a team-high 17 points, while Chendall Weaver contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals off the bench. Dailyn Swain added 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the Longhorns (19-14).
The game saw Texas blow a late lead, allowing NC State (20-14) to tie the score at 66 with 18 seconds remaining. However, Mark's last-second heroics ensured the Longhorns advanced to the Round of 64, where they will face No. 6 BYU in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday.
Howard's Next Challenge and UMBC's Disappointment
Howard now prepares for a daunting showdown with No. 1 seed Michigan, a team expected to contend for the national title, also scheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, UMBC's loss was a bitter pill to swallow, as the Retrievers were seeking their first March Madness win since their historic 2018 upset of top overall seed Virginia, which made them the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1. This marked UMBC's first NCAA Tournament appearance since that memorable run.
King led UMBC with 19 points, Armstrong had 17, and Caden Diggs scored 15. For Howard, Cedric Taylor III added 16 points, going 9 of 10 from the free-throw line before fouling out in the final minute. The Bison dominated early, leading for all but the first 1:21 and building a 13-point advantage in the first half, with Okojie scoring 16 points before halftime to help secure a 49-41 lead at the break.
UMBC coach Jim Ferry lamented his team's performance, saying at halftime, 'I said, 'Guys, this is the worst we've played all year,' for whatever the reason.' Despite the loss, the Retrievers showed resilience, but it wasn't enough to overcome Howard's historic night and Texas's dramatic finish, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of March Madness.
