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Gonzaga Bulldogs come up short to Houston Cougars in NCAA Tournament

Cougars hold off the Zags to play in the Sweet 16
Cole Forsman|
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman (11) shoots the ball against the Houston Cougars during the first half at INTRUST Bank Arena.
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman (11) shoots the ball against the Houston Cougars during the first half at INTRUST Bank Arena. | Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

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Gonzaga BulldogsHouston Cougars

The 8-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs fell short to the 1-seeded Houston Cougars, 81-76, in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

The Zags never led and trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, though Mark Few's squad didn't go down without a fight. Despite trailing by 10 points with just over 2 minutes left in regulation, Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard put the team on their backs down the stretch to make it a one-possession game in the final seconds.

Ike and Nembhard scored 16 straight points and Battle hit a pair of free throws to make it 77-76 with 21 seconds left, as the Cougars went over 3 minutes without a score after going back ahead by double-digits with 2:30 left in regulation. But LJ Cryer, who led all scorers with 30 points, sunk crucial shots at the charity stripe after the Zags couldn't get a shot off to tie it in the final seconds.

With the win, Houston advances to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight season, while Gonzaga's run of nine straight Sweet 16s was snapped.

Here is the live updates recap:

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FINAL: Houston 81, Gonzaga 76

SECOND HALF RECAP

Houston 79, Gonzaga 76 (0:14): Gonzaga's fans have gone into a frenzy as their team has pulled within one possession after trailing by double-digits all night

Houston 77, Gonzaga 74 (0:38): Gonzaga got the stop it needed by Mylik Wilson was right there for the Cougars to clean up LJ Cryer's missed 3-pointer, resulting in a foul and a trip to the free-throw line for Wilson. Wilson went 1-for-2 at the line.

Houston 76, Gonzaga 72 (1:10): Bulldogs are showing signs of life as they chop into the Cougars' lead. Houston hasn't scored since the 4:29 mark, prompting a timeout from Kelvin Sampson. Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike have carried the load offensively down the stretch, as they've scored Gonzaga's last 14 points.

Houston 76, Gonzaga 65 (2:56): Gonzaga hasn't scored in over 2 minutes as Houston looks to close out this one from INTRUST Bank Arena. Costly turnovers down the stretch and timely offensive rebounds have helped the Cougars maintain control down the stretch, as Houston has 19 second-chance points to Gonzaga's two.

Houston 76, Gonzaga 65 (4:28): J'Wan Roberts gets a hook shot to go over Graham Ike, prompting a timeout from the Zags and pushing the Cougars' lead back to 11 points. Gonzaga can't afford another foul the rest of the way, as Houston is in the bonus for the rest of the half and one away from entering the double bonus. Graham Ike and Emmanuel Innocenti have three fouls apiece. Six of Houston's last 11 points have come at the charity stripe. LJ Cryer is up to 28 points.

Houston 70, Gonzaga 60 (6:39): Some nice ball movement from the Bulldogs leads to an open midrange jumper for Ryan Nembhard, who's up to five points and 10 assists on the night. It's going to take an all-out effort on the defensive end of the floor from the Bulldogs if they're to seize momentum from the Cougars. LJ Cryer is up to 24 points after his sixth 3-pointer of the night.

Houston 70, Gonzaga 58 (7:32): Every time it seems like the Zags pull within striking distance, the Cougars have an answer. Graham Ike made it a 7-point game at the charity stripe, but LJ Cryer responded with a timely 3-pointer the next possession. Khalif Battle knocked down a 3-pointer, only for Cryer to respond again from beyond the arc.

Houston 60, Gonzaga 48 (11:00): Officials issue a flagrant foul on Houston's Joseph Tugler after he shoved Gonzaga's Graham Ike while trying to establish position on the low block. Kelvin Sampson was visibly upset with Tugler as he walked to the bench.

Houston 58, Gonzaga 46 (11:41): Houston won't relinquish any part of its lead to Gonzaga, as Milos Uzan pushed the Cougars' advantage back to 12 with his first 3-pointer of the night. Zags are 7-of-11 to start the half but missed out on a couple of opportunities to cut down on their deficit, and the Cougars took full advantage. Houston is 9-of-17 to start the second half. Gonzaga will need to keep up the pace offensively and keep Houston out of the paint on the other end.

Houston 55, Gonzaga 46 (12:45): Ben Gregg missed a gimme around the rim that would've made it a 7-point game, but J'Wan Roberts made it a 4-point swing with a layup on the other end to push Houston's lead back to double-digits. Gregg made up for it the next play.

Houston 48, Gonzaga 37 (15:23): Gonzaga fans could feel a momentum shift after Graham Ike drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to make it an 8-point game, but the Cougars delivered a quick response. Emanuel Sharp knocked down a 3-ball of his own while getting fouled by Nolan Hickman, resulting in a 4-point play opportunity for Houston coming out of the under-16 media timeout. Cougars have scored on six of their first seven offensive possesions of the half. Zags need to tighten up defensively if they're to overcome this double-digit deficit.

Houston 39, Gonzaga 29 (18:30): Khalif Battle has Gonzaga's first points of the half at the free-throw line, going 2-for-2 after a questionable foul on J'Wan Roberts. Roberts got the Cougars going with back-to-back scores to start the second half.

HALFTIME RECAP: Houston 35, Gonzaga 27

The first 20 minutes from INTRUST Bank Arena didn't feature Gonzaga's finest offensive display of the season, as it struggled out of the gate against Houston's swarming defense and physcial play on both ends of the floor.

The Bulldogs committed back-to-back turnovers to start and missed five of their first six looks from the field, resulting in a 10-2 hole for Mark Few's squad not even 5 minutes into the game. Houston, meanwhile, received a jumpstart from LJ Cryer, who led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-8 from the field. The 6-foot-1 senior also knocked down four 3-pointers, while Gonzaga was just 3-of-11 from behind the arc in the first half.

Braden Huff and Khalif Battle scored seven points apiece to lead the Bulldogs. The Zags found a groove toward the end of the half after falling behind by 14 points with just under 5 minutes remaining. Ryan Nembhard drilled a 3-pointer, then Khalif Battle got a score in transition off one of Houston's four turnovers, followed by a 3-ball from the sixth-year guard to make it a 6-point game. Joseph Tugler pushed Houston's lead back to eight with a score in the paint.

The Cougars, who ranked No. 1 in second-chance scoring opportunities coming into the game, already have 12 second-chance points to Gonzaga's two.

1ST HALF RECAP

Houston 33, Gonzaga 27 (1:09): Bang! Khalif Battle makes it a 6-point game with a 3-pointer from the wing, as the Cougars' lead slowly dwindles away amid a 3-minute long scoring drought for Kelvin Sampson's squad. Zags fans have come alive inside INTRUST Bank Arena.

Houston 33, Gonzaga 22 (3:55): Bulldogs have found their groove down the stretch of the first half, as they've made five of their last six looks from the field after Ryan Nembhard drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to make it an 11-point game. Braden Huff leads Gonzaga with seven points early on. Zags need to figure out how to get the ball out of LJ Cryer's hands. Houston's floor general has drilled four 3-pointers and has 16 points already for the Cougars.

Houston 28, Gonzaga 17 (6:17): Houston's relentless on-ball pressure has proven to be overwhelming for the Bulldogs out of the gate. Braden Huff drilled Gonzaga's first 3-pointer of the night but is called for a foul on the other end trying to keep the Cougars out of the painted area. Houston is 12-of-25 to start with three 3s. Bulldogs need to "cut off the water" from behind the arc, especially with regard to LJ Cryer.

Houston 24, Gonzaga 12 (8:00): Gonzaga faces a 12-point deficit after LJ Cryer drilled his third 3-pointer of the night, giving him 13 points through 12 minutes of action. Mark Few calls an immediate timeout to rally his troops. Zags are up to five turnovers and six made field goals on the night.

Houston 19, Gonzaga 10 (10:23): Ryan Nembhard finds Graham Ike in the pick-and-roll for what might be Gonzaga's most coherent offensive possession so far tonight. Gonzaga is 5-for-15 from the floor out of the gate with four turnovers.

Houston 17, Gonzaga 8 (11:42): It's LJ Cryer 10, Gonzaga 8 at the moment. Houston's experienced floor general is in a groove to start, knocking down a pair of baseline jumpers after a couple of 3-pointers went down earlier. Six of Gonzaga's eight points have come from the bench (four for Ben Gregg, two for Michael Ajayi). Six assists on seven made baskets for Houston.

Houston 13, Gonzaga 6 (13:27): Ben Gregg provides a much-needed spark off the bench, scoring a pair of baskets along the baseline to cut into the Zags' deficit. Cougars continue to find success in the pick-and-roll.

Houston 10, Gonzaga 2 (15:11): Rough start offensively for the Zags, who are just 1-for-6 from the field with three turnovers after a couple airballs from Khalif Battle and Ryan Nembhard. The Cougars capitalized on the other end with a pair of 3-balls from LJ Cryer.

Houston 4, Gonzaga 2 (17:56): Khalif Battle has Gonzaga's first points of the night, as the sixth-year guard got an easy layup to go after the Zags committed back-to-back turnovers to start.

Houston 2, Gonzaga 0 (19:44): Joseph Tugler gets the Cougars on the board first with a putback layup over Graham Ike. Gonzaga turns it over on its first offensive possession.

PREGAME UPDATE:

STARTING LINEUPS

For the third straight game, Gonzaga trots out Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Khalif Battle, Braden Huff and Graham Ike in its starting five.

Houston rolls out a familiar lineup as well with LJ Cryer, Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, J'Wan Roberts and Joseph Tugler.

Those 10 players have combined to play in more than 60 NCAA Tournament games heading into Saturday. Should make for quite the battle between two very experienced programs.

As the Texas Tech Red Raiders lead the Drake Bulldogs midway through the second half at INTRUST Bank Arena, the Zags and Cougars make their final preparations in their respective locker rooms ahead of this highly-anticipated round of 32 game.

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Cole Forsman
COLE FORSMAN

Cole Forsman is a reporter for Gonzaga Bulldogs On SI. Cole holds a degree in Journalism and Sports Management from Gonzaga University.

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