Kevin Hervey nails 3-pointer in final seconds to lift UTA over Texas State

With ice in his veins, Kevin Hervey drained a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining to lift the UT Arlington men’s basketball team to a dramatic 85-82 victory over Texas State on Friday night in San Marcos.

Hervey’s heroic shot keeps alive the Mavs' postseason hopes with the Sun Belt tournament beginning next week.

UTA (19-12, 10-8) was sparked in the regular-season finale by its senior combination of Hervey and Erick Neal who scored 22 points each. Neal registered a double-double with 10 assists, while Hervey grabbed seven rebounds and had a game-high five steals.

Texas State's Tre Nottingham made a 3-pointer with :40 seconds on the clock and was fouled. He made the ensuing free throw to cut the Mavericks' lead to just 3 points. Hervey connected on a pair of free throws just seconds later to put UTA back up by five.

Nijan Pearson's two-point basket with his toe on the line made Texas State's deficit back to just 3 points. Neal missed a pair of free throws to hand the Bobcats a lifeline, then Nottingham connected on another 3-pointer to tie the game at 82-82 with :17 seconds remaining.

UTA inbound the ball and Hervey calmly walked it up court and connected on the first game-winner of his career.

Graduate transfer Johnny Hamilton added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Up next, UTA awaits the seeding of the Sun Belt Championships next week in NOLA.

This story was originally published March 2, 2018 at 10:03 PM with the headline "Kevin Hervey nails 3-pointer in final seconds to lift UTA over Texas State."