The Houston basketball team fell to the end of its bench in overtime of Sunday’s March Madness game against Texas A&M in Memphis.
Leading 98–95 with 18 seconds remaining in overtime, Houston All-American Jamal Sheed was fouled. He was the fourth Cougars player to foul out. So coach Kelvin Sampson gave walk-on rarely-used senior Ryan Alvin. He has not played more than six minutes in a game this season and has made only four free-throw attempts.
But Alvin gave the Cougars the breathing room they needed to escape upset-minded Texas A&M, and won 100–95 to advance to the Sweet 16. He missed his first free throw but blocked the second to take the lead 99–95 with 17 left. Seconds left.
