Texas' Vokietaitis Lights Up the Floor for Thrilling Win Over NC State

The  Texas Longhorns  began their March Madness run on Tuesday night with a thrilling 68-66 win over NC State. In a game that was full of ups and downs, Tramon Mark drained the game-winning shot with less than five seconds left. While Mark made headlines, he also got help from Matas Vokietaitis, who left his stamp on the Longhorns ' biggest win of the season in various ways.

As the Longhorns needed a spark, Vokietaitis stepped up with 15 points in 26 minutes of action. The Longhorns' sophomore made his impact felt on the boards with eight rebounds, which were tied for the second most on the team. In a game that came down to seconds, Vokietaitis did everything in his power to ensure the Longhorns' season would be extended another night.

A sweet Chendall Weaver pass leads to the Matas Vokietaitis spin and score 🪄 pic. twitter. com/T9P3NCSAjJ — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 18, 2026 While Vokietaitis was extremely efficient with the ball in his hands, he also made his presence felt on defense.

He had one block, which was crucial in a game that came down to one possession. Just like he has done all season, the Liuthuaian native came through when he was needed the most. Now, the Longhorns' focus will shift to BYU, whom they will face Thursday night.