WICHITA, Kan. (AP) So many thoughts were running through Rob Gray's head as he dribbled near midcourt, time winding down in a tied NCAA Tournament game, that Houston's star guard nearly ran out of time.

"I was thinking to myself, I'm a senior, I've never been in March Madness. This is what I live for," Gray said later. "A small thought ran through my head: I thought about Cincinnati, how I had a chance to win that game for us and I didn't, and I just wanted to come through for us."

Finally deciding it was time to go, Gray drove for a wind-milling layup that trickled over the rim with 1.1 seconds left. And when San Diego State's Trey Kell missed a tough 3-pointer at the buzzer, the No. 6 seed Cougars had a heart-stopping 67-65 first-round win Thursday night.