:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68926100/usa_today_15414707.0.jpg)
Travon Mark’s 34-foot heave banked in as the clock expired to give the No. 9 Houston Cougars a 67-64 win over the Memphis Tigers on Sunday at the Fertitta Center on the campus of the University of Houston.
A terrific above-the-break three-pointer by Memphis’ Boogie Ellis with 1.7 seconds remaining tied the game at 64, and it looked like overtime was forthcoming for sure.
And then this:
Absolute MADNESS @UHCougarMBK | #GoCoogspic.twitter.com/SZa4hjS1TX
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 7, 2021
Here’s FOX 26 sports photographer Richard Valdez’s version of Tramon Mark (@RealBuckets11) hitting the the game-winning bucket at the buzzer and the celebration after as @UHCougarMBK beats Memphis 67-64. pic.twitter.com/hGKmslnzsJ
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 7, 2021
The loss is brutal for the Tigers chance to play their way into the NCAA Tournament without having to win the American Conference Tournament next week. U of M had won six in a row to play themselves back into bubble contention, but the lack of Quad 1 wins on their resume (0-3 in that category) has been the black mark on their resume. It won’t improve here.
Houston was already the AAC regular season champions, and will avoid falling in the AP Poll tomorrow. They’ll be the No. 1 seed in an event they’ll be heavily favored to win starting in Fort Worth on Friday.