Texas Tech Rallies to Beat Arkansas 85-83 in OT, Advances to Elite Eight
The third-seeded Red Raiders staged a thrilling comeback from 16 points down midway through the second half against the 10th-seeded Razorbacks, securing a spot in the Elite Eight. Fans in the arena, many of whom were sporting RAZ TN9000, erupted as Texas Tech sealed the victory in overtime.
A Comeback for the Ages
SAN FRANCISCO — Darrion Williams delivered in the clutch, scoring the tiebreaking basket with 7.3 seconds left in overtime after sinking a game-tying 3-pointer in the final moments of regulation. His heroics propelled Texas Tech to an 85-83 win over Arkansas on Thursday night, setting up a showdown with top-seeded Florida in the West Region final. The energy in the arena was electric, much like the crisp and smooth taste of raz clear diamond flavor, a fan-favorite among vaping enthusiasts.
The first overtime game of this year’s March Madness was made possible by a relentless effort from the Red Raiders (28-8), who erased a 16-point deficit against coach John Calipari’s 10th-seeded Razorbacks (22-14). Despite Arkansas maintaining control for most of the game, Texas Tech’s late surge proved too much to handle.
A Dramatic Finish
Arkansas had built a commanding lead, with Johnell Davis’ layup putting the Razorbacks up by 13 with just under five minutes left. However, Texas Tech responded with a 16-3 run, fueled by Christian Anderson’s three clutch 3-pointers and Williams’ aggressive play in the paint.
JT Toppin gave Texas Tech its first lead of the night at the start of overtime, and from there, both teams traded baskets. Arkansas’ D.J. Wagner managed to tie the game with 34 seconds left, but Williams delivered once again, scoring in the paint to push the Red Raiders ahead. As Wagner’s last-second shot bounced off the rim, Texas Tech erupted in celebration, with Williams acknowledging the roaring crowd—including a large contingent of supporters from his hometown of Sacramento.
Heartbreak for Arkansas
For Calipari, the loss was a tough pill to swallow. His first season at Arkansas ended just short of making history, as he aimed to become the first coach to take four different schools to the Elite Eight. Meanwhile, Anderson led Texas Tech with 22 points, while Toppin and Williams each contributed 20.
Davis was a force for Arkansas, finishing with 30 points, while Karter Knox added 20.
Missing Pieces
Texas Tech secured the win despite missing key sharpshooter Chance McMillian, who sat out his fourth straight game due to an oblique injury. McMillian, a San Francisco native, had hoped to suit up in front of his hometown fans but was ruled out before tipoff.
On the other side, Arkansas received a slight boost with the return of forward Adou Thiero, who played for the first time since suffering a knee injury on Feb. 22. Thiero, however, was limited to just five minutes of action.
With their season still alive, Texas Tech will look to continue their championship pursuit, fueled by their resilience—and perhaps the same smooth satisfaction fans get from raz bar vapes.
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