Late rally nearly negates free-throw issues as Ags force then fall in OT

Press conference video courtesy of the NCAA

MEMPHIS — In a perfect scenario, Andersson Garcia would’ve become a Texas A&M legend on Sunday night. His overtime-forcing 3-pointer would be remembered as the biggest shot in Aggie basketball history.

Heck, it might’ve even been listed among the greatest in NCAA lore, along with Arkansas’ U.S. Reed from half-court, Duke’s Christian Laettner at the buzzer, UCLA’s Tyus Edney on the drive and Indiana’s Keith Smart baseline shot. Alas, the previously mentioned shots all resulted in victories.

Garcia’s arcing nothing-but-net miracle merely gave the Aggies hope.

But it wasn’t enough to prevent an imperfect 100-95 loss to No. 1 seed Houston 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. “But it was to tie. It wasn’t to win.”

The Aggies will spend the next few days — maybe the rest of their lives — lamenting how close they were to winning.

They could’ve, would’ve, should’ve booked a trip to Dallas for the Sweet Sixteen. There were lost opportunities that might have rendered moot Garcia’s big shot.

Most might see the difference as Houston’s clutch plays in overtime. The Cougars started with a second-chance 3-pointer that put the Aggies in catchup mode for the entire extended period.

Big shots by Houston’s Jamal Shead were just enough to hold off the Aggies.

However, a strong argument can be made that A&M missed much earlier opportunities that might have led to a different outcome.

For the most part, the Aggies did what they usually do to win. They took more shots than the Cougars. They dominated on the boards with 49 rebounds to Houston’s 35. A&M had 26 offensive rebounds, which led to 26 second-chance points.

But the Aggies typically shoot about 70 percent at the foul line. This time struggled mightily there, especially in the first half.

The Aggies missed 16 of 45 free throws. They hit only 11 of 22 in the first half.

Consequently, the Aggies trailed 43-38 at the break. They could have had the lead.

Unable to contain the Cougars trio of Shead, Emanuel Sharp and L.J. Cryer, who combined for 71 points, every point was vital for the Aggies. Every missed opportunity loomed large.

Why the uncharacteristic inaccuracy? Were they tight? Were they too amped up?

Williams didn’t think so.

“I did not sense that,” he said. “To shoot 45 free throws is outstanding. 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.

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Four out of five Houston starters fouled out in the heavy-weight battle. 

“There will always be specifics to the game that in a two-possession overtime against the No. 1 team in the country to go to the Sweet Sixteen, I think you’ll always wish that it would have been different.”

The outcome could have been different. And it was so painfully close to being different.

Star guard Wade Taylor IV had only one point at halftime. But he broke out of his funk just in time in the second half.

A&M trailed 81-69 with just two minutes remaining.

Then Solomon Washington scored a dunk to ignite a 17-5 run.

Taylor hit from the wing. Tyrece Radford connected on a jumper. Taylor hit a 3 and followed with a trio of three-pointers. Washington struck again with a put-back to bring A&M within 86-83.

A blocked shot by Washington provided the Aggies a last chance. Two 3-point attempts failed, but the second went out of bounds to the Aggies with 1.2 seconds remaining.

Radford stood under his basket to inbound the ball. Taylor wasn’t open. Neither was Jace Carter.  Running out of options, Radford bounced a low pass to Garcia near the top of the key.

Garcia snatched the ball, took a step back behind the arc and drained only his ninth 3-pointer of the season.

“Four (Taylor) started hitting, so obviously they were going to face guard him and take four out of the picture,” Radford said. “But for Andy to step up and just show how brave he is to knock down that shot means a lot.”

It would’ve meant he made the biggest shot in A&M basketball history.

If only the Aggies had made a couple more plays or a couple more free throws.