scorecardHow Texas A&M completed the greatest comeback in NCAA Tournament history in 44 seconds
  1. Home
  2. sports
  3. College Sports
  4. How Texas A&M completed the greatest comeback in NCAA Tournament history in 44 seconds

How Texas A&M completed the greatest comeback in NCAA Tournament history in 44 seconds

44 seconds left.

How Texas A&M completed the greatest comeback in NCAA Tournament history in 44 seconds

Texas A&M fans don't exactly look as if they are believing yet.

Texas A&M fans don

31 seconds left.

31 seconds left.

Now we see the first example of UNI's sloppiness. It has a tough inbounds location down in the corner. Sure enough, it throws the ball away, and A&M converts an easy layup as the Panthers are careful not to foul.

More important, A&M got the steal and converted the bucket in less than six seconds.

There are now 26 seconds left, and A&M uses its final timeout.

25.8 seconds left.

25.8 seconds left.

This is where the tide turns.

Once again, UNI inbounds the ball toward the corner, on the baseline. And once again, Texas A&M puts on a trap. UNI has no idea what to do. Paul Jesperson, the hero in the tournament's first round with his half-court buzzer-beater, tries to throw the ball off a defender but instead gives A&M an easy dunk.

It is now 69-63 with 22 seconds to go, and the crowd is starting to sense what is happening.

21.7 seconds left.

21.7 seconds left.

Here is where UNI wishes it still had a timeout left. It is up against the wall. Its players are not sure what to do against the press and desperately need some guidance.

Instead, they once again try to inbound the ball into the corner and instead throw the ball away.

For some reason, even though the latest pass was never touched, the refs reviewed the play and actually ADDED 0.3 seconds to the clock, going from 21.7 seconds on UNI's inbounds to 22.0 seconds for Texas A&M's inbounds.

For some reason, even though the latest pass was never touched, the refs reviewed the play and actually ADDED 0.3 seconds to the clock, going from 21.7 seconds on UNI

22.0 seconds left.

22.0 seconds left.

Texas A&M now adds to its comeback the old-fashioned way, hitting a quick 3-pointer off of the inbounds pass. It takes just 2.4 seconds.

The 12-point lead is now down to three, and it took only about 25 seconds.

17.9 seconds left.

17.9 seconds left.

Up by five, UNI makes another mistake.

Texas A&M has to go the full length of the court. It does, but Jesperson inexplicably leans into the shooter during a layup attempt, giving A&M a foul on top of the made shot.

1.9 seconds left.

1.9 seconds left.

Northern Iowa once again inbounds the ball into the corner. Texas A&M once again traps the ball. And once again, UNI doesn't know what to do and tries to throw the ball off the defender, only to give the ball back to A&M for an easy layup.

UNI turned the ball over four times in the final minute, and Texas A&M made all six of its shots.

Texas A&M has tied the score with less than two seconds left in the game. Some of the A&M fans stuck around, and they were going nuts.

Texas A&M has tied the score with less than two seconds left in the game. Some of the A&M fans stuck around, and they were going nuts.

The game went to overtime and then to double overtime. But UNI got into foul trouble, with three of its top players fouling out, and in the end A&M was just too much.

The game went to overtime and then to double overtime. But UNI got into foul trouble, with three of its top players fouling out, and in the end A&M was just too much.

Texas A&M eventually won 92-88, controlling most of the second overtime.

Texas A&M eventually won 92-88, controlling most of the second overtime.

The pain ran deep for UNI.

The pain ran deep for UNI.

And the party was on for the A&M players and the Aggies fans who stuck around to witness history.

And the party was on for the A&M players and the Aggies fans who stuck around to witness history.

Advertisement