All articles tagged with #houston cougars
No. 20 Houston defeated UCF 27-17 on Saturday, erasing a 17-0 deficit with 27 unanswered points in the second half. Quarterback Conner Weigman, playing through illness, threw for 239 yards and rushed for three touchdowns. The victory came despite a notably sparse crowd at TDECU Stadium, which drew criticism for a ranked team. Houston improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while UCF fell to 3-2.
Boston used the 27th pick to select 6'11" forward Chris Cenac Jr. from Houston, a raw, toolsy big with a 7'5" wingspan who excelled in rebounding and has intriguing length and shooting potential but needs development to reach his ceiling. Experts’ reactions were mixed-to-positive, grading the pick from C to A and noting Cenac’s upside and the likelihood he’ll be a long-term project in Boston’s 3‑point–friendly system.
Houston rolled to an 88-57 NCAA Tournament second-round win over Texas A&M, advancing to the Sweet 16. Emanuel Sharp led Houston with 18 points, Chris Cenac Jr. added 17 and nine rebounds, and Milos Uzan contributed 15 as the Cougars dominated the boards (46-29) and interior play, building a 46-28 halftime lead. Texas A&M was led by Josh Holloway with 12 points, but the Aggies shot 34.6% from the field while Houston shot 44.1% and excelled at the free-throw line (about 79%). Houston will play in its home city on Thursday against Illinois or VCU in the next round.
Houston defeated Idaho 78-47 in the NCAA Tournament opener in Oklahoma City, with Kingston Flemings scoring 18 and Emanuel Sharpe 16 as the Cougars pulled away to a 48-24 halftime lead and cruised to the finish. Freshman center Chris Cenac Jr. grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds, while Kolton Mitchell led Idaho with 14 points. Houston shot 50% from the field and 53% from three, outrebounded Idaho 47-32, and advances to face Texas A&M in the second round.
CBS Sports’ South Region preview crowns Florida as the favorite in a bracket that also features a loaded Houston–Illinois–North Carolina cluster. Houston, the No. 2 seed, aims to return to the Sweet 16 at home in Houston, while No. 6 North Carolina draws No. 11 VCU in a tough opener that could hinge on Caleb Wilson’s season-ending injury. Illinois is analytically strong and could push deep, and Nebraska and Vanderbilt face rough, under-seeded draws. The piece highlights Saint Mary’s vs. Texas A&M as the best first-round game, a potential Houston–Illinois second-round showdown as a marquee matchup, and a VCU Cinderella angle, with six players to watch across the region. Florida’s rugged frontcourt and elite rebounding are cited as key edges in a region that would make a Final Four run especially challenging if they must beat Houston in Houston.)
Arizona Wildcats defeated Houston 79-74 to clinch the Big 12 Tournament title, powered by 21-point performances from freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. The win extends Arizona’s nine-game winning streak and boosts momentum into the NCAA tournament, highlighted by Jaden Bradley’s buzzer-beater and a celebratory wave from fans and media alike.
Bryson Tiller started for Kansas but was benched after 14 first-half minutes in a 69-47 loss to Houston in the Big 12 semifinal; coach Bill Self said the second-half sit was for performance reasons, not injury, as KU shot a season-low 24.6% and struggled to rebound ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
No. 14 Kansas used lockdown defense and efficient free-throw shooting to beat Houston 69-56, with Tre White leading the way with 23 points. The Jayhawks closed the first half on an 11-0 run, limited Houston to 31.8% shooting and 20.8% from 3, and went 18-for-20 at the line to seal the win as they prepare to face No. 2 Arizona.
KU freshman Darryn Peterson played 30 minutes and scored 14 points in a 69-56 win over No. 5 Houston, weathering a brief thigh cramp before returning; Self praised his on-ball defense and the step forward, noting the electric environment and a key second-half 3 that helped stretch KU’s lead.
Tre White scored a season-high 23 points to lift No. 14 Kansas to a 69-56 win over No. 5 Houston at Allen Fieldhouse, snapping Houston’s run of top-15 opponents. Kansas improves to 21-7 (11-4 Big 12), while Houston drops to 23-5 (11-4). Darryn Peterson added 14 points and Bryson Tiller 11, but the Cougars couldn’t overcome Kansas’s balanced attack.
No. 8 Kansas hosts No. 2 Houston in a defense-first clash likely to stay under 138.5; the top bet is Under 138.5 (-110), with Houston favored around -2.5 on the spread and a Houston moneyline bet, plus a same-game parlay focused on Flory Bidunga rebounds and Kingston Flemings' boards.
No. 6 Iowa State rallied to beat No. 2 Houston 70-67 in Ames, as Nate Heise hit the go-ahead 3 with 1:17 left and Tamin Lipsey secured a late offensive rebound; Kingston Flemings led Houston with 22, while Joshua Jefferson (12) and Heise (11) paced the Cyclones (23-3, 10-3 Big 12) in this top-10 showdown.
Colorado's football team suffered a heavy 36-20 loss to Houston, highlighting challenges faced after losing key players Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, with the team struggling in multiple phases and facing a tough schedule ahead, raising questions about the program's future and rebuilding efforts.
The Colorado Buffs, under Deion Sanders, suffered a 36-20 loss to Houston, revealing significant issues in their defense and offensive line, and highlighting their overall softness and lack of talent compared to their opponents.
Houston head coach Willie Fritz praised the atmosphere at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium despite his team's 30-18 loss in their regular season finale. Fritz, in his first year with Houston, acknowledged the challenges of the Big 12 Conference and emphasized the need for improvement in recruiting and coaching staff. Despite a 4-8 season, Fritz commended his team's perseverance and effort throughout the year.