March Madness 2024: Houston walk-on Ryan Elvin delivers after Cougars came through for unlikely team hero

Ryan Elvin came through for Houston basketball after the Cougars came through for him

By David Cobb Mar 25, 2024 at 12:13 pm ET• 5 min read

MEMPHIS, TENN. —- Two minutes into overtime of an unhinged second-round NCAA Tournament barnburner with Texas A&M, Houston guard Emanuel Sharp looked at walk-on Ryan Elvin and delivered a message.

"Stay ready," Sharp told Elvin. 

Sharp had just become the third Houston starter to foul out after scoring a career-high 30 points. Star point guard Jamal Shead then became the fourth with 18 seconds left in overtime. With an already injury depleted roster growing thinner by the possession in a game featuring more than 50 fouls, coach Kelvin Sampson was running out of options.

It was Elvin's time to shine. The 6-foot-1 senior was "pretty nervous," he admitted later. But he was ready. He'd prepared his whole life for this.

With a trip to the Sweet 16 hanging in the balance and every fan inside FedExForum standing, Elvin entered, cold off the bench, and was fouled immediately after receiving an inbounds pass. He made one of his free throws and turned a one-possession game into a two-possession game.