Dayton’s First Four produced two dramatic outcomes Tuesday as No. 11 Texas and No. 16 Howard both advanced to the main bracket. In the late game Tramon Mark hit a go-ahead jumper with one second left to deliver a 68-66 win over No. 11 NC State. Earlier, Howard claimed the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history, beating UMBC 86-83. Both winners move on to face top opponents in Thursday’s first round: Texas draws No. 6 BYU and Howard draws No. 1 Michigan.
Key Takeaways
- Texas edged NC State 68-66 on Tuesday in Dayton; Tramon Mark scored 17 and hit the decisive jumper with one second remaining.
- Howard beat UMBC 86-83 for the program’s first NCAA Tournament win, improving the Bison to 24 wins on the season—tied for the school record set in 1986-87.
- Texas outrebounded NC State 45-33 and converted five 3-pointers while shooting 21 of 57 (36.8%) as a team.
- Howard used balanced scoring—three starters finished with 16+ points—and made 13 of 16 first-half free throws to build an early cushion.
- With the results, Texas will face No. 6 BYU in the first round and Howard will meet No. 1 Michigan in Buffalo on Thursday.
- UMBC missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the Howard game to overtime.
Background
The NCAA Tournament opens with the First Four in Dayton, a play-in round that determines four bracket spots among the 68-team field. First Four games often pair teams of similar seed lineages—11-versus-11 or 16-versus-16—making the contests tense, low-margin affairs. Texas entered Dayton after a difficult late-season stretch, losing five of its last six games and falling into the play-in slot; the Longhorns were in last year’s First Four as well, when they fell to Xavier.
Howard arrived at Dayton as a 16-seed seeking program history: the Bison were 0-4 in previous NCAA Tournament appearances. UMBC, the opponent, came in on a long winning streak—12 games—boosted by the memory of the Retrievers’ historic 2018 upset of Virginia. The stakes for winners are immediate: both First Four victors advance to face significantly higher-seeded teams in the early rounds, testing whether momentum from Dayton can translate against top opponents.
Main Event
Texas vs. NC State was decided in the final second. The Longhorns led for much of the contest and held a narrow advantage late, but NC State fought back to threaten the outcome. With the game tied in the closing sequence, Tramon Mark drove and hit a jumper with one second left to put Texas ahead 68-66; NC State had possession but could not convert before time expired. Four Texas players finished in double figures, and the Longhorns’ dominance on the offensive glass (45-33 rebounding margin) provided extra possessions that helped offset a 36.8% shooting night.
The Howard–UMBC matchup unfolded differently: Howard built a sizable lead—by as many as 14 points—largely through aggressive attacking that produced free throws and open looks from deep. Ose Okojie had 23 points, with 16 coming in the first half, despite dealing with foul trouble late. UMBC mounted a comeback in the second half and got within striking distance, but a last-second 3-pointer attempt that would have forced overtime rimmed out. The 86-83 result gave Howard its first NCAA Tournament victory.
Game flow underscored different strengths: Texas relied on rebounding and timely scoring in a defensive, lower-possession contest, while Howard leveraged pace, pressure and efficient trips to the line to build a lead that survived late UMBC runs. Coaching narratives also carried weight—Sean Miller, who left Xavier after last year’s tournament to become Texas’s coach, saw his new team advance, and NC State closed out a disappointing season under Will Wade after a late slide.
Analysis & Implications
For Texas, the Dayton win answers a short-term question about survival but does not erase longer trends. The Longhorns’ poor shooting (36.8%) and recent five-loss stretch suggest inconsistencies that BYU will try to exploit; BYU’s balanced offense and length create matchup problems if Texas cannot convert efficiently. Conversely, Texas’s edge on the offensive glass and ability to execute late in close games are clear assets in single-elimination play, where one possession can decide advancement.
Howard’s victory has broader program implications: the first NCAA Tournament win lifts recruiting narratives, alumni momentum and national visibility. Beating a hot UMBC team that entered on a 12-game streak enhances the result’s credibility. However, Howard now faces Michigan, a No. 1 seed with size and depth; converting Dayton momentum into an upset will require continued defensive pressure and crisp offensive execution.
At a tournament level, the First Four outcomes reaffirm the volatility of early-round matchups. Lower-seeded winners who emerge from Dayton can be dangerous because they gain a competitive tune-up and belief that they can perform under pressure. Yet those advantages must be balanced against the fatigue and short turnaround that come with additional games before facing top seeds.
Comparison & Data
| Game | Seed | Score | Top Scorer | Next Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas vs. NC State | No. 11 / No. 11 | Texas 68, NC State 66 | Tramon Mark (17) | No. 6 BYU (Thursday) |
| Howard vs. UMBC | No. 16 / No. 16 | Howard 86, UMBC 83 | Ose Okojie (23) | No. 1 Michigan (Thursday) |
The table highlights contrasts: Texas won a low-scoring, rebounding-focused contest, while Howard prevailed in a higher-scoring affair anchored by multiple double-digit scorers. Both winners face tougher matchups in Round 1—Texas against a 6-seed BYU and Howard against 1-seed Michigan—which will test depth, matchup preparation and recovery between games.
Reactions & Quotes
Postgame reaction emphasized the dramatic finishes and program milestones. Observers noted both the clutch execution by Texas and the historic significance for Howard.
Tramon Mark’s late jumper gave Texas the 68-66 win in Dayton, a play that decided the night’s second First Four game.
CBS Sports (game recap)
The Howard win generated immediate recognition for the program’s milestone, with media coverage underscoring it as the school’s first NCAA Tournament victory.
Howard secured its first NCAA Tournament victory, defeating UMBC 86-83 and matching the program record for wins (24).
CBS Sports (game recap)
Unconfirmed
- Whether any lingering minor injuries from the Dayton games will alter starting lineups for Texas or Howard on Thursday is not yet confirmed.
- It is unclear how much the momentum from First Four wins will influence performance against much higher-seeded opponents, as matchups and preparation time vary.
Bottom Line
Tuesday’s First Four delivered two different but equally meaningful victories: Texas survived a tense finish to keep its tournament hopes alive, and Howard reached a historic program milestone with its first NCAA Tournament win. Both teams now face steep challenges—Texas against BYU and Howard against top-seeded Michigan—where shooting consistency, matchup adjustments and depth will be decisive.
Dayton’s results remind fans that March’s early rounds often set narratives but not final outcomes. For bettors, bracket holders and neutral observers, the key question is whether these winners translate short-term momentum into upsets or whether the favored, higher-seeded teams reassert control with adjustments and depth advantages.