Texas Tech Stuns Arkansas in Overtime to Advance to Elite Eight

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a thrilling Sweet 16 matchup, Texas Tech stunned Arkansas with an 85-83 overtime victory on March 27, 2025, at Chase Center, completing a remarkable comeback from a 16-point deficit.

Darrion Williams, who had struggled for most of the game, scored the decisive basket with 7.3 seconds remaining in overtime. His late-game heroics secured the Red Raiders’ spot in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

“The heart of the team is Darrion Williams,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “He just is a resilient guy. I can’t even explain it. I put faith in him because I do believe that he’ll find a way in one-game scenarios to do whatever it takes to win.”

The dramatic contest unfolded as the third-seeded Red Raiders (28-8) overcame a 13-point deficit in the final minutes of regulation against the 10th-seeded Razorbacks (22-14). This marked the first overtime game of March Madness this season.

Texas Tech’s road to victory was paved by a 16-3 run in the closing moments, capped by a crucial three-pointer from Williams with just under 10 seconds left in regulation. “In the huddle, Coach said we’re going to find a way to win this no matter how much we’re down,” guard Christian Anderson stated. “As a team we had that look, we’re not losing this game no matter what.”

Although Williams began the game missing 13 of his first 15 shots, he stepped up when it counted the most, finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds. His three-pointer late in regulation was pivotal in tying the game and forcing overtime.

JT Toppin contributed alongside Williams with another 20 points, while Anderson led the team with 22 points. Meanwhile, Arkansas’ Johnell Davis scored a game-high 30 points, and Karter Knox added 20 as the Razorbacks fell just short of victory.

The game was a significant nail-biter characterized by fluctuating momentum, with Arkansas having led by as many as 16 points in the second half. Texas Tech will advance to face top-seeded Florida in the West Region final on Saturday, April 1, with a shot at returning to the Final Four for the second time in program history.

Coach John Calipari expressed disappointment for his team following the loss. “We’re all disappointed here,” he said. “But I told them, there’s nothing they could do to disappoint me because of what they’ve done this year. I’m so proud of them.”

With a chance to make history, Texas Tech’s victory sets the stage for an exciting Elite Eight showdown ahead.