Northern Iowa blows 12-point lead in final 33 seconds, falls in 2OT

No. 11 Northern Iowa looked to be on to the Sweet 16 after Jeremy Morgan sank two free throws with 44 seconds left to put the Panthers ahead by 12.

Cue the pandemonium.

Northern Iowa committed four turnovers in its last five possessions to end regulation which allowed No. 3 Texas A&M to launch a 14-2 run over the final 33 seconds to send the game into overtime. There the Aggies would find the advantage, eventually emerging with a 92-88 victory in double overtime.

The collapse started with Morgan throwing a wayward inbound pass straight to the Aggies, who flipped it in for a layup to cut it to 10. That was followed by a turnover from Paul Jesperson, which again turned into a layup. Incredibly, the Panthers threw it away yet again with 21 seconds left on the ensuing inbound to set up a three. Then, after Northern Iowa found a streaking Klint Carlson all alone for a dunk, the Aggies responded by driving the full length of the court and drawing the and-1 for a three-point play.

That set up the final turnover, committed by Wes Washpun, which allowed the Aggies to tie it on the ensuing steal to complete the comeback.