Two days after he scored a game-high 21 factors to upset No. 1 seed Alabama, San Diego State level guard Darrion Trammell etched his identify into Aztecs historical past.
The Marin native and St. Ignatius alum’s free throw with 1.2 seconds left gave the fifth-seeded Aztecs a 57-56 win over Creighton to win the South Regional Remaining and advance to the Remaining 4 for the primary time in program historical past.
The sixth-seeded Bluejays tied the sport with 32.4 seconds left when Baylor Scheierman stole an inbound cross and laid it in. Creighton (24-13) gave a foul with 6.7 seconds left, permitting the Aztecs to take the ultimate shot, and Ryan Nembhard grabbed Trammell’s hip because the SI alum tried an elbow jumper.
Time initially expired on the play. After assessment, referees put 1.2 seconds again on the clock. Trammell missed his first free throw however made the second.
San Diego State heads to the road in a tie recreation with 1.2 remaining 😮#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/zRP3Hc2KGu
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2023
“March is for gamers. We’ve obtained actually good gamers,” head coach Brian Dutcher advised CBS’ Evan Washburn. “I drew up a play that didn’t occur and Darrion made a play.”
The Bluejays tried to throw a full-court inbound cross, and after one final assessment, referees decided that point had expired on the failed heave, making certain Trammell might be remembered by generations of SDSU followers.
“It’s all about believing in your self. I put within the work and I had nothing to be nervous about,” Trammell advised Washburn. “I’m doing this for my household and for the individuals again dwelling. My grandpa, my brother … I’m simply doing it for them.”
“It is all about believing in your self” 👏
An emotional Darrion Trammell is misplaced for phrases after San Diego State earned its first journey to the Remaining 4 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/NIUvMfmV7Z
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2023
Trammell had no Division I affords when he graduated from St. Ignatius in 2018. He spent a post-grad 12 months at Golden State Prep (Prolific Prep’s post-grad group) in Napa, then performed at Metropolis Faculty of San Francisco earlier than spending two years at Seattle.
“It’s only a blessing to be right here and to have the chance to knock down these free throws for my brothers so we are able to have fun,” an emotional Trammell stated to Washburn and a nationwide TV viewers. “I’ve been dreaming of this my complete life.”
Trammell completed with 12 factors and an help. Teammate Lamont Butler scored a game-high 18, whereas Oakland native Keshad Johnson completed with 5, together with a clutch and-1 to chop Creighton’s result in 1 with 7:09 left.
The Aztecs will face Cinderella story Florida Atlantic within the Remaining 4 subsequent Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Trammell will not be the one Marin County native within the Remaining 4; Marin Catholic alum Joey Calcaterra, who was raised in Novato, can even be in Houston with the UConn Huskies. Calcaterra, who comes off the bench as a 3-point specialist, will face the winner of Sunday’s recreation between Miami and Texas.
Ethan Kassel will be reached at [email protected]