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UH's Rob Gray is the March Madness star we deserve

Look no further for the star of this year's Big Dance. He's the guy from Houston with a man bun.
Credit: Peter G. Aiken
Houston Cougars guard Rob Gray (32) scores the winning basket past San Diego State Aztecs forward Malik Pope (21) during the second half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena. Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Look no further for the star of this year's Big Dance.

He's the guy from Houston with a man bun.

Do-everything senior guard Rob Gray put on a show Thursday night in the NCAA tournament's first round, catapulting his No. 6-seeded Cougars to a down-to-the-wire 67-65 victory over a gritty San Diego State squad that didn't go away quietly.

Photos: Coogs Rob Gray in action

Gray finished with 39 points and eight rebounds off 12-for-25 shooting from the floor, but saved his best for last.

As the Aztecs climbed their way back into the game and matched Houston blow-for-blow during the final stretch (thanks to back-to-back treys from Devin Watson), Gray first drilled an ice-in-his-veins three-pointer from the top of the key with 49 seconds left.

Then, with the game knotted at 65-65, Gray crossed over his defender, carved through SDSU's defense and scooped in the game-winning bucket with 1.1 seconds remaining.

"Dipsy-doo, scoop-a-roo," color commentator Steve Lavin said after the game-winner.

You know you're a breakout star when you've got a catch phrase.

Outside of Gray's heroics in helping Houston fend off the upset, the most exciting action in Thursday's first-round action came from Loyola-Chicago's buzzer-beating upset of Miami. But that was a team putting on the glass slipper. The player spotlight belongs to Mr. Gray this March Madness.

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