The No. 1 seed Houson Cougars bumped into main foul bother on the finish of their spherical of 32 matchup towards Texas A&M on Sunday night time. By the top of the sport, three gamers fouled out, together with Emmanuel Sharp, who scored 30 factors within the recreation, Ja’Vier Francis, and Large 12 Participant of the Yr Jamal Shead.
Houston was out-scored 13-3 within the closing minute of the sport. The Cougars’ beautiful collapse allowed Texas A&M to pressure time beyond regulation. Abruptly, a No. 1 seed was watching their season doubtlessly finish in probably the most embarrassing approach doable.
Houston got here away with a 100-95 victory over the Aggies to achieve the second spherical. They did it because of a clutch free throw from a walk-on who had barely performed all season all season.
Senior guard Ryan Elvin got here into the sport when Shead fouled out, an not possible scenario to not really feel stress in. Overlook going from out the frying pan and into the hearth, that is going straight into the volcano. Elvin entered with 18 seconds left in time beyond regulation, and instantly was fouled by the Aggies, due to course he was. But, when he stepped to the road, everybody on the Houston bench appeared fairly calm. Elvin solely performed in 173 minutes in his whole profession for the Cougars, but went to the road with the arrogance of a child who knew a kind of was about to fall.
Houston senior Ryan Elvin averaged lower than 3 minutes per recreation and took 4 free throws all season.
Tonight, he hit a clutch free throw with 17 seconds left in time beyond regulation to place Houston up two possessions. CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/DYZxCqTaEy
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 25, 2024
With 17 seconds left and Houston up three, Elvin break up a pair of free throws to make it a two possession recreation and key the win. There should have been ice working by means of his veins.
Sure, Elvin is a walk-on on the College of Houston, however he’s such an integral a part of the Cougar basketball staff that it virtually doesn’t make sense to name him that. In Paper Metropolis author Chris Baldwin’s story about Elvin, star guard LJ Cryer informed a narrative about being tasked to protect Elvin in his first observe after transferring from Baylor, and Cryer taking disrespect to it. Elvin then proceeded to cook dinner Cryer in observe, and the 2 turned shut as Cryer adjusted to life at Houston. Elvin is a staff captain for the Cougars, an excellent rarer distinction for a participant who wasn’t on scholarship when he arrived.
The respect that Elvin garners and deserves was felt within the response after the sport to Houston making the Candy 16 as soon as once more.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson spoke about Elvin and the arrogance he had in him on the line, along with what he means to the Houston program.
So sure, Elvin was a walk-on who solely shot 4 free throws in all the season. However, the arrogance that his staff confirmed in him made it abundantly clear that he was a lot greater than that. What an important staff win for Houston, all the best way right down to the final man on the roster.