Crash course
Mark adds to game-winning legacy by guiding Cougars to Sweet 16 with three-point play via rebounding technique
INDIANAPOLIS — When he got back to his hotel room late Sunday night, Tramon Mark turned on his television and saw the play on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
There it was for the world to see: DeJon Jarreau dribbled into the lane and put up a floater over 6-11 Rutgers center Myles Johnson that bounced off the front rim. With the ball in the air, Mark came flying out of nowhere and tipped the ball in to tie the game with 24.1 seconds left — all while drawing a foul — to save the University of Houston’s season.
“That’s when I knew this is for real,” said Mark, who finished the threepoint play as the second-seeded Cougars put together a 10-point comeback late in the second half to beat Rutgers 63-60 and advance to the Sweet 16.
“This is March Madness.”
It was the type of play almost assuredly to be part of the “One Shining Moment” montage that’s played at the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament.
Most players dream of making one game-winning shot during their careers. Mark, a freshman guard, had two decisive moments in the span of 14 days.
In the regular-season finale, Mark banked in a 3-pointer from just inside half court to stun Memphis 67-64.
“It’s definitely been crazy hitting some of the biggest shots we needed to win,” Mark said Tuesday as the Cougars prepared to play 11th-seeded Syracuse on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. “I’m just glad I was in the right position to do it for the team.” What have the days since been like? “It’s definitely been crazy,” Mark said. “My phone still hasn’t stopped.”
But the more he talks about the play that kept alive UH’s hopes of a trip to the Final Four, Mark said it goes back to training. Each player is taught to “crash” the boards. A play very similar to Sunday’s is worked on every day in
practice.
“That’s just part of us,” Mark said. “That’s what we do.”
As the play developed, guard Marcus Sasser grabbed a loose ball on a Rutgers turnover, his left foot coming tantalizing close to touching out of bounds in front of the Scarlet Knights’ bench. Sasser dribbled the ball up court and passed — just before he reached midcourt — to Mark along the left wing. Mark dribbled once, just inside the 3-point play, and passed up an open shot, instead dishing to Brison Gresham underneath the basket. Gresham tossed the ball back to the top of the key, where Sasser, in midair, made a touch pass to Jarreau on the right wing. At that moment, Jarreau made his move inside. And Mark saw his opening.
“(Rutgers guard) Geo Baker wasn’t looking and I knew (DeJon) was about to shoot it,’ Mark said. “So, I went and crashed, the ball bounced my way and I was able to tip it in.”
On the bench, freshman guard Ryan Elvin joined the celebration as the Cougars tied the game at 60 and took their only lead of the second half moments later when Mark sank a free throw.
“I was going crazy on the sideline,” Elvin said. “I was in the corner with a bunch of guys around me. We were jumping up and down. He swooped in for that rebound. He’s been doing that in practice. It was great for everyone to see what we see from him on a daily basis.”
Earlier in the second half, Mark said the Cougars were searching for a spark after falling behind 52-42 with less than nine minutes left.
“I was like dang, ‘we’ve got to get it going now,’ ” Mark said. “That’s why I kept crashing and crashing. To see what we could get going.”
Mark has enjoyed a storybook first season with the Cougars. In addition to his starring role late in the year, the Dickinson product has played in all 29 games, averaging 8.3 points in 20.5 minutes per game.
“We’re still here,” Mark said. “Nobody wants to go home. I’m glad we are still here.”