The Aggies trailed Northern Iowa by a dozen points before they closed out regulation with a stunning 14-2 run that sent the game into overtime, then won it 92-88 in double OT Sunday night to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. It was, per the NCAA, the largest last-minute comeback in college basketball history. The previous record was set in 2005, when UNLV rallied from 11 points down with 59 seconds left to beat San Diego State in overtime.
“We weren’t ready to be done,” Caruso said. “We kept just trying to make a play.”
At the moment when most teams might empty the bench or commit a series of half-hearted fouls, the Aggies kept trying to make a play. Instead of launching low-percentage jumpers, the Aggies drove into the lane for quick baskets. Instead of fouling, they pressured Northern Iowa into mistake after mistake.
“We played the game the right way, even at the end,” said Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy, who admitted afterward he would need time to wrap his head around what had transpired. “We didn’t have guys just coming down jacking up 3s. We tried to drive the ball.”
I’ve seen them play since way back when,
And they’ve always had the grit;
I’ve seen ‘em lose and I’ve seen ‘em win,
But I’ve never seen ‘em quit.
This is my favorite summary:
The Panthers’ failure broke math.
First of all, we need to credit the Aggies. Facing such preposterous odds, nobody would’ve blamed them if they just eased up and let UNI run the clock out with 30 seconds to go.
Instead, they played some of the most vicious, airtight full-court defense imaginable. They executed in every way they needed to execute. They suffocated the Panthers until they made bad decisions. They made every shot they needed to make, some dunks, some layups, some threes. They even managed to draw contact on a play where contact wasn’t really necessary to get a free throw. They played perfectly for 40 seconds.
Was switching back and for between tape of walking dead and Badger game
I saw NIU way ahead early then got a text that the game was going to OT
After the Badgers , I fast forwarded to 24 seconds left and the Aggies trailing by 8 so I knew they were going to make up 8 points in 24 seconds
It was still amazing . The NIU coach is excellent but tit just shows that
Bad things can happen to any coach
NIU losing their PG to a knee injury shows the difference between a
Mid major and a Ky who just picks another McDonalds All American
To sub
All credit to the Aggies , and to NIU for still taking it to 2 OT’s
And the Aggies coach dealing with Parkinson’s is another
Amazing story
An even more amazing win than the Badgers .
MM in the first 2 weeks is better than anything else in TV IMHO
The non contact foul was the only really questionable call in the 24 seconds of Aggie Bliss
Great came.
Caught all the coverage after the great WI win.
Shocked that a team can be down by 12 points with 43 seconds left and tie the game. that has got to be the greatest under 1 minute gap closed by a team ever.