Texas advances from First Four to Sweet 16
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PORTLAND, Ore. — Texas upset No. 3 Gonzaga 74-68 on Saturday at the Moda Center, with Jordan Pope and Matas Vokietaitis each scoring 17 and Camden Heide hitting a decisive 3-pointer, advancing the 11th-seeded Longhorns into the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
The victory makes Texas the first First Four team in five years to reach the Sweet 16; the Longhorns (21-14) will face No. 2 seed Purdue or No. 7 seed Miami on Thursday in San Jose while Gonzaga (31-4) is eliminated.
More context
Timeline
- 1. 2011: NCAA Tournament expands to include First Four play-in games.
- 2. 2011–2021: Several First Four teams (VCU, La Salle, Tennessee, Syracuse, UCLA) advance deep into the tournament.
- 3. Early March: Texas entered the NCAA Tournament after late-season losses and won a First Four game to join the field of 68.
- 4. Saturday: Texas defeated No. 3 Gonzaga 74-68 in Portland, with Pope and Vokietaitis scoring 17 each and Heide hitting a late three.
- 5. This Thursday: Texas will meet No. 2 Purdue or No. 7 Miami in the West Region semifinals in San Jose.
Why it matters
If you're a Texas fan, this is a moment of pride. Your team has made history, overcoming odds to reach the Sweet 16. If you're a college basketball enthusiast, this adds an exciting twist to the tournament. Check out the next game on Thursday.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
