San Francisco, CA– For much of the game, Darrion Williams struggled to find his rhythm. But when the moment mattered most, he delivered, propelling Texas Tech to an unlikely berth in the Elite Eight.
Williams secured the game-winning basket with 7.3 seconds remaining in overtime, capping off a remarkable performance that saw him force the extra period with a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation. His heroics led Texas Tech to a thrilling 85-83 victory over Arkansas on Thursday night.
“Darrion Williams is the heart of this team. He’s relentless,” said head coach Grant McCasland. “I can’t even put it into words. I trust him completely because I know he’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
In the first overtime contest of this year’s NCAA tournament, the third-seeded Red Raiders (28-8) mounted a dramatic comeback, erasing a 13-point deficit in the final five minutes to stun 10th-seeded Arkansas (22-14) and head coach John Calipari.
Texas Tech now advances to face top-seeded Florida in the West Region final on Saturday, seeking the program’s second Final Four appearance after falling in the 2019 national championship game.
For much of the night, that possibility seemed remote. Arkansas controlled the game, jumping out to an early double-digit lead and extending it to as many as 16 points in the second half. The Red Raiders’ comeback ranks as the third-largest in Sweet 16 history. According to ESPN Research, Arkansas held the lead for a staggering 38 minutes and 53 seconds, while Texas Tech was ahead for just 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
“Coach kept telling us in the huddle, ‘We’re going to find a way to win this,’” said guard Christian Anderson. “Even when we were down 16 with ten minutes left, we just had that mindset—there was no way we were losing this game. We knew we had to step up defensively, crash the boards, and make plays. And we did.”
Williams, who had missed 13 of his first 15 shots, found his touch at the perfect time. With family and friends in attendance from his hometown of Sacramento, California, he played a pivotal role in Texas Tech’s 16-3 run to close regulation. Anderson drained three crucial three-pointers, while Williams contributed three key baskets—including a game-tying three with 9.7 seconds left after Arkansas’ Jonas Aidoo missed a free throw.
Despite struggling from deep, missing eight of his first nine three-point attempts, Williams kept his confidence. “They weren’t falling early, but I was taking open looks,” he said. “I knew they would start dropping.”
In overtime, JT Toppin scored first to give Texas Tech its first lead since the opening minutes. The teams traded baskets until Arkansas’ D.J. Wagner tied the game with 34 seconds remaining. Then, with the game hanging in the balance, Williams delivered once more, scoring in the paint to put Texas Tech ahead for good. Wagner’s last-second shot bounced off the front rim, sparking a raucous celebration at midcourt as Williams acknowledged the crowd.
“If we had just given up and let them blow us out by 30, our season would’ve ended right there,” Williams said. “None of us were ready for that.”
Meanwhile, Calipari could only watch in disappointment as his first season at Arkansas ended in heartbreak. The loss marked the largest lead a Calipari-coached team has ever relinquished in NCAA tournament history.
“We’re all disappointed,” Calipari admitted. “But I told my players that nothing they did could make me any less proud of them. They fought hard all season.”
Anderson led Texas Tech with 22 points, while Toppin and Williams each contributed 20, sealing a win for the ages and keeping the Red Raiders’ championship hopes alive.
