Texas Tech fans were pumped with adrenaline as their team clawed back from the brink to stun Arkansas 85-83 in overtime. It was the first OT thriller of March Madness, and it delivered every ounce of drama promised. By the end, social media was flooded with reactions that captured the night’s wild ride.
Texas Tech’s Comeback Drives the Fans Crazy
The game left fans gushing. “So worth staying up to 1 am,” one Reddit user posted, summing up the late-night thrill. Another called it “one of the best college basketball games I’ve ever watched,” praising announcer Kevin Harlan’s electric call.
The comeback stunned viewers, with one noting, “16-point deficit goes in. Tortilla comes out. You can’t explain that.”
Arkansas fans felt the sting. A user jabbed at Calipari, saying his late-game collapse mirrored his Kentucky exit. Others marveled at the finish as two teams traded insane shots with no timeouts to slow the pace. It was the second-biggest Sweet 16 comeback ever, turning a sleepy tournament into an instant classic.
Texas Tech’s journey to the Elite Eight wasn’t easy. The third-seeded Red Raiders trailed by 16 points in the second half against John Calipari’s 10th-seeded Arkansas squad.
The Razorbacks dominated early, building a double-digit lead that felt unbreakable. Johnell Davis powered Arkansas with a slick layup, pushing their advantage to 13 with under five minutes left in regulation.
But then everything flipped. Texas Tech ignited a 16-3 run to close the gap. Christian Anderson drilled three 3-pointers, giving the team the push it needed. Darrion Williams joined in, scoring three times, including a clutch 3-pointer with 9.7 seconds left that tied the game after Arkansas’ Jonas Aidoo missed a free throw.
The extra period was a slugfest. JT Toppin opened with a bucket, handing Texas Tech its first lead since the game’s early moments. Arkansas fought back, with D.J. Wagner knotting it up at 34 seconds.
But Williams struck again, scoring down low with 7.3 seconds left. Wagner’s final shot clanged off the rim, and Texas Tech erupted in celebration at midcourt. Williams pointed to his friends and family from Sacramento, who’d made the trip to witness the masterclass performance.
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Anderson led the way with 22 points. Toppin and Williams each chipped in 20. For Arkansas, Davis dropped 30, and Karter Knox added 20, but it wasn’t enough. Calipari trudged off, his first Arkansas season ending in agony, one step shy of a historic Elite Eight milestone.
Texas Tech now faces top-seeded Florida on Saturday, eyeing its second Final Four trip after falling short in 2019. This time, they’re riding a wave of momentum and belief.
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