Northern Iowa Panthers at Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M erases 12-point deficit in last 44 seconds, tops NIU in 2OT

That was before Texas A&M put together the biggest last-minute comeback in NCAA Division I history.

"Craziest game I've been a part of from beginning to end," Caruso said. "Just an amazing game. This is what March is about."

The previous NCAA record for coming back from a deficit in the last minute was 11 points, done by UNLV in 2005 and Canisius in December.

Crazy is a mild way to put the finish, something the Panthers (23-13) were accustomed to after reaching Sunday's second-round matchup thanks to Paul Jesperson's buzzer-beating halfcourt winner against Texas two nights earlier.

More precisely, it was a last 44 seconds in which the Aggies were able to atone for what had been a dismal previous 39 minutes and 16 seconds.

"We knew it was kind of impossible, man, but we just said that we were going to fight until the end," House said.

Once into overtime, it was Caruso who sent the game to a second with a drive and layup with 5.9 seconds left in the first extra period, tying the game at 83-83.

And in the second, the surging Aggies finally wore down a hobbled and short-handed Northern Iowa team missing two of its starters after fouling out. It was House who capped the scoring with a free throw with 12.6 seconds remaining to give Texas A&M a 92-88 lead, with a most unexpected and euphoric celebration following moments later on the Chesapeake Arena court.

"I've never been a part of a game like that, never saw one," Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said. "(I) still really don't know what happened."

For Northern Iowa, the dramatic turn of fortunes in the final minute was a difficult blow to handle after Friday night's last-second miracle against the Longhorns.

Morgan had career highs of 36 points and 12 rebounds, while Klint Carlson matched his career high with 17 points, but all of the positives of the first 39 minutes of the game were lost amid the postgame tears.

"It's just tough," Bohannon said. "It's the NCAA tournament, though, that's what happens."

The Panthers, seeking their second Sweet 16 appearance in school history, led by as many as 15 points in the second half. However, they were unable to overtime the series of last-minute miscues that left them on the opposite end of emotion compared to their opening-round win.

"It shouldn't have ended tonight," said Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson, who added the loss was "no question" the toughest to handle of his career.

TIP-INS

Northern Iowa: Morgan's previous career high for points was 21 against Missouri State on Feb. 10, while his previous best rebounding effort was 10 against Dubuque last November.

TRIPLE THREAT

Before fouling out in the first overtime, Washpun did a little of everything for the Panthers. The point guard was a primary reason for House's offensive struggles for Texas A&M, and he finished with nine points, 10 assists and six rebounds.

SURGING CARLSON

Carlson scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and overtimes, including a stretch of 10 straight points during one stretch in the second half.

UP NEXT

Texas A&M faces second-seeded Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 next week.

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