Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson knew earlier than Sunday’s recreation towards Texas A&M started his Cougars can be in for a struggle.
He knew it after the sport began. And he knew at halftime that the remainder of the sport would not be any completely different. Sampson knew it was the form of recreation the place former Cougar Reggie Chaney, who died from fentanyl toxicity in August 2023, would have thrived.
Realizing he wanted his workforce to dig deep to beat the Aggies (which it did, 100-95 in time beyond regulation to advance to the Candy 16), Sampson invoked Chaney’s identify and reminiscence within the locker room at halftime.
“ ‘What would 32 do? Reggie Chaney (who wore No. 32 at Houston) would have fought his (expletive) off,’ ” Houston All-American guard Jamal Shead mentioned throughout a postgame tv interview, recalling what Sampson advised the workforce. “He talked about Reggie, and I form of did not actually take heed to the remainder of the speech, form of simply began to tear up slightly bit. So when he requested, what would Reggie do? Reggie would struggle. And I believe we did that the second half.”
As a lot struggle because the Cougars had within the second half, the Aggies matched or exceeded it. Texas A&M outscored Houston 25-12 over the ultimate 3:43 of regulation, drilling a 3-pointer on the buzzer (by Andersson Garcia) to ship the sport into time beyond regulation. However Samspon’s squad nonetheless had sufficient left within the tank to drag out the victory.
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I requested them about Reggie, and as quickly as I mentioned it, out of the nook of my eye I noticed Jamal acquired actually emotional,” Sampson mentioned. “Ramon (Walker Jr.) acquired actually emotional. In order that one was for Large Reg.”
Houston walk-on Ryan Elvin hit a single free throw with 17 seconds left in time beyond regulation, making him an unlikely hero. He and Chaney had been teammates for 3 seasons earlier than Chaney’s final season with the Cougars in 2022-23.
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“We play each recreation for Reggie,” Elvin mentioned referencing the No. 32 patch the workforce has worn on its uniforms all season. “Robust video games like this, you understand, we all know he’s with us. This was his sort of recreation, for certain. Reggie was one of many hardest dudes, if not the hardest dude, I’ve ever been round.
“When it’s exhausting video games like this, we take into consideration him slightly bit extra. However he’s at all times with us.”
No. 1 seed Houston will face Duke within the Candy 16 this week Friday in Dallas.
Attain sports activities author Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or comply with him @munzly on X, the social media app previously generally known as Twitter.