NCAA Tournament First Round: Nevada comes back to beat Texas in overtime

Caleb Martin’s nine overtime points led Nevada to a dramatic, come-from-behind victory over Texas, 87-83, Friday afternoon in Nashville.

The 6’7 junior had just nine points heading into the extra session, but came alive with three three-pointers to catapult the Wolf Pack into Sunday’s Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Wolfpack trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half, but senior Jordan Caroline’s seven points in the final six minutes of regulation forced the overtime. It was Caroline’s free throw with 3.8 seconds left that tied the game at 68.

Nevada was out-rebounded, 42-34, but when Texas’s Mo Bamba fouled out prior to Caroline’s game-tying free-throw, the game changed. Bamba unavailable to protect the rim for the extra session. He finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Texas freshman Matt Coleman finished with 25 points, including eight in overtime. Junior Kerwin Roach led all Longhorns with 26 points.

Five Nevada players reached double figures. Kendall Stephens (22), Cody Martin (15), Caroline (14) and Josh Hall (14) all made significant contributions during the comeback and in overtime.

The Wolfpack (28-7) will play Cincinnati, who handled Georgia State earlier Friday by a score of 68-53. That game will be played Sunday.

For now, we check in with Nevada head coach Eric Musselman: