Texas A&M Fights Back Despite Free Throw Issues In Overtime Loss To Top-Seed Houston

The Texas A&M Aggies missed 16 free throws, but still pushed Houston over the edge during the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

One shot would have changed the story.

Literally, if one more bucket landed through the rim, fans in College Station would be waking up Monday to start looking at hotel rooms, travel accommodations, and the quickest route to Dallas for a weekend of potential history.

It should have been a storybook ending for Texas A&M's men's basketball team, a program that nearly missed the dance heading to Nashville last week for the conference showdown at Bridgestone Arena. It should have been the Cinderella tale fans gush over when dreaming about March and the heroes that emerge in the closing seconds.

Andersson Garcia was that hero. His game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer against top-seeded Houston should have been one of the biggest shots in Aggie history. He bought the Aggies more time to complete the comeback in Memphis against the Cougars, a fan favorite to win it all.

But sometimes, minor mistakes lead to substantial issues. Fundamentals can't be replaced and often determine the outcome. The Aggies missed 16 free throws, which allowed the Cougars to coast back despite losing their top three players to foul-outs for a 100-95 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament South Regional.

“Obviously, it’s a shot that will go down in Texas A&M lore,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said of Garcia's moment. “But it was to tie. It wasn’t to win.”

It's hard to say the Aggies didn't leave it all out on the wood. They ended the second half on a 17-5 run after a Solomon Washington dunk. Two of the night's game-defining shots came from Tyrece "Boots" Radford and Wade Taylor IV on back-to-back drives following a block on UH's Jamal Shead.

Mar 24, 2024; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Wade Taylor IV (4) shoots against Houston

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Taylor finished with 21 points. Radford notched a team-high 27. Manny Obaseki was on pace for a career night, too, but he fouled out with just under five minutes remaining, another blow to set A&M back further.

“It shows how resilient we were all season,” Taylor IV said of the Aggies' comeback from a 13-point deficit against UH. “We were in a position a lot this season as far as being counted out and still fighting to get back to the top.

"I’m so proud of our guys for staying in there, hanging in there.”

While A&M, which finishes the season at 21-15, fought, but there was never a need for the blow exchange. A simple consistent first half at the free-throw line would have saved the trouble of Taylor, Radford and Garcia having to play hero ball.

As a team, the Aggies shot a season-high 45 free throws. They made 29 for a success rate (64.4 percent) well under their season average of 71.1 percent. What's worst is A&M finished 11 of 22 during the first 20 minutes, making it truly a 50/50 game entering the second.

“To shoot 45 free throws is outstanding," said Williams. "That tells you we’re playing the way we would like to play.

“I think in any game like this, not necessarily now — and I won’t watch it for a while — but for sure, you know, make a free throw.

A missed free throw wasn't the only thing that kept A&M from punching its ticket to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2018. Shead, Emanuel Sharp and L.J. Cryer combined for 72 of the Cougars' 100 points. The Cougars shot 70 percent from the line (21-of-30) and finished with eight blocks compared to the Aggies' four.

But A&M held its own against the mighty Cougars, who now take on fourth-seeded Duke for a shot at their third Elite Eight appearance since 2021. Ask anyone inside of FedExForum and they'll agree that the Aggies bent but never broke playing their brand on the hardwood.

They bullied Houston on the boards with 49 rebounds. They had 26 offensive rebounds, which led to 26 second-chance points and 19 successful shots.

As Sharp and Cryer fouled out, A&M saw its opening and attacked. Taylor hit a shot from downtown. Radford took an inline bounce to the rim for a 3-point play and Washington slammed down another basket to bring the Aggies within a score.

Washington jarred the ball loose after back-to-back failed 3-point attempts from Taylor. With 1.2 seconds, Radford found Garica at the top of the glass for one last shot.

FedEx Forum erupted as the score read 86-86. Garcia remained on the court, understanding his team would survive for one last run with five minutes left. Players engulfed the junior as a sea of A&M faithful rattled the stands chanting his name.

“For Andy to step up and just show how brave he is to knock down that shot means a lot," said Radford.

Garcia's shot was the one that changed A&M's night. If only the Aggies had made one more bucket or free throw earlier in the evening.

It would have changed the history of A&M hoops.