Texas Longhorns Stun Gonzaga 74-68, Surge from First Four to Sweet 16 in Epic March Madness Upset
Portland, Ore. — In a gritty, paint-dominated battle at the Moda Center, the No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns etched their name in NCAA Tournament history, defeating the No. 3 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs 74-68 to advance to the Sweet 16.[1][2]
This victory marks Texas as the first team in five years—and only the sixth ever—to journey from the First Four play-in games to the second weekend of March Madness, joining elite company like VCU, UCLA, Syracuse, La Salle, and Tennessee.[2][3] The Longhorns, now 21-14, overcame their First Four thriller and a first-round upset of No. 6 BYU just 48 hours prior, securing their third win in five days.[3]
Key Performances Light Up Physical Affair
The game was a slugfest inside, with both teams combining for just nine 3-pointers and 84 points in the paint—Texas holding a decisive 46-38 edge.[3] Sophomore Matas Vokietaitis and senior Jordan Pope led the charge with 17 points apiece, while Camden Heide delivered the dagger: a clutch 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to seal the four-point win.[1][3]
Gonzaga’s Graham Ike fought valiantly, pouring in a game-high 25 points on 10-of-22 shooting, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs fell to 21-14.[1][3] Texas coach Sean Miller became the 10th coach to guide three different programs—Texas, Arizona, and Xavier—to the Sweet 16, a testament to his postseason prowess.[2]
Tense Halves Defined by Momentum Swings
Texas led 35-33 at halftime after Pope’s deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds, capping a resilient defensive effort that limited Gonzaga to two 3s and two free throws in the first 20 minutes.[2] The Longhorns’ defense, often criticized during the season, stepped up when it mattered most.[2]
The second half saw multiple lead changes, including Texas tying the score at 33 late in the first and embarking on a 17-5 run early in the second to go up 37-35.[4] Gonzaga briefly reclaimed the lead at 40-39, but Texas’ bench contributions—like Nic Codie’s key buckets—and patient offense kept them ahead.[5]
Highlights included Chendall Weaver’s floating jumpers and layups, Pope’s pull-up jumpers and treys, and Heide’s assist to Vokietaitis for a crucial layup.[1][5] Gonzaga’s Emmanuel Innocenti and Mario Saint-Supery provided sparks with timely 3s, but Texas’ physicality prevailed.[1]
Historical Milestones and Bracket Implications
Texas’ run guarantees a double-digit seed in the Sweet 16, echoing last year’s No. 10 Arkansas as the lone such team.[2] The SEC dominated the West Coast Conference 3-0 in second-round matchups, with Texas’ win over Gonzaga sealing the sweep.[2]
For Gonzaga coach Mark Few, the loss stings: it gives him 45 NCAA Tournament wins without a title, the most all-time, and marks the Bulldogs’ second straight exit before the Sweet 16 after nine consecutive appearances.[2] Few’s squad couldn’t overcome Texas’ interior dominance despite Ike’s heroics.
The upset slashed perfect brackets dramatically: only 27 remain across major platforms like the Men’s Bracket Challenge Game (4 left), ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, Kalshi, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated. Texas eliminated the last ones on Yahoo and Kalshi.[3]
| Team | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 35 | 39 | 74 |
| Gonzaga | 33 | 35 | 68 |
What’s Next for the Longhorns
Texas awaits the winner of No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) in the Sweet 16 next week, in the West Region.[2][3] With momentum from their improbable run, the Longhorns—led by Miller’s veteran coaching—aim to extend their fairy tale deeper into March Madness.
Betting notes: Texas covered as +204 underdogs, and the under hit on a 147.5 total as the physical game stayed low-scoring.[4]
“Texas delivers again… one of the most physical games of the tournament.” — NCAA.com[3]
This March Madness Cinderella story continues, with Texas proving that seeding is no barrier in the Big Dance.
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