Houston Cougars On SI

Houston defeats Kansas: Live updates, score of Big 12 Conference 'Big Monday' tilt

Cougars sweep Jayhawks as Houston continues torrid stretch of play
Buck Ringgold|
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson (right) congratulates guard LJ Cryer during a recent game.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson (right) congratulates guard LJ Cryer during a recent game. | Thomas Shea/Imagn Images

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Houston CougarsKansas Jayhawks

Big 12 regular season outright champion Houston still wants to garner a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

So the Cougars continue to go out and take care of business, which was the case again on Monday night.

The Cougars picked up a regular season sweep against Kansas, as Houston - despite several players in foul trouble - was able to scratch out a 65-59 win Monday night at the Fertitta Center on the Cougars' Senior Night.

How to watch, stream Houston basketball vs. Kansas: TV channel, predictions

Houston (26-4, 18-1 Big 12) has now won 22 out of its last 23 ballgames. The Cougars beat the Jayhawks again, having rallied past Kansas in an epic double-overtime win two months ago at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks (19-11, 10-9) were seeking to salvage what has been a disappointing season by their lofty standards. Kansas did go toe-to-toe with the Cougars, but costly turnovers and an inability to get offensive rebounds eventually doomed the Jayhawks.

LJ Cryer, one of five Cougars honored on Senior Night, led the way with 22 points, 18 of those coming in the first half as he sat out most of the second half after picking up his fourth foul. Emanuel Sharp added 12 points, while Mylik Wilson and Milos Uzan each had 10 points. Uzan sat out most of the first half after picking up two early fouls.

Kansas center Hunter Dickinson had a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out late. KJ Adams and David Coit added 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Jayhawks, with Coit making four 3-pointers.

Houston closes out the regular season with a game Saturday night at Baylor.

Follow Houston Cougars On SI writer Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from the Fertitta Center.

HOUSTON 65, KANSAS 59 FINAL

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POSTGAME STATS AND ANALYSIS

- Kansas turned the ball over 20 times, and Houston scored 18 points off those turnovers. The Cougars also had 17 of their 37 rebounds come on the offensive glass.

- Four players in double figures in Houston's latest win. LJ Cryer led the way with 22 points, 18 of those in the first half. Emanuel Sharp added 12 and Mylik Wilson and Milos Uzan each with 10 points, though Uzan missed most of the first half after picking up two early fouls.

SECOND HALF

- Emanuel Sharp knocks down two huge foul shots. Houston back up four, and Kansas just turned the ball over and Hunter Dickinson just fouled out. This may be in the bag now for the Coogs. (Houston, 63-59 | :15, 2nd)

- Kansas makes a 3 with 20 seconds left. Jayhawks are down two points now. (Houston, 61-59 | :20, 2nd)

- And another offensive rebound for Houston. Seventeen now for the Cougars.

- Yet another offensive board for Houston, with the ball and a two-possession advantage. (Houston, 61-56 | :57, 2nd)

- LJ Cryer has his 20th point, but only 2 points after halftime. But those were huge, as he was all alone to rebound a missed shot from Milos Uzan and stuck it back in. Cougars now with 15 offensive boards. (Houston, 61-56 | 1:40, 2nd)

- LJ Cryer back in the game with four fouls. (Houston, 59-56 | 3:00, 2nd)

- The big bugaboo so far for Kansas has been 18 turnovers. Jayhawks have done nearly everything right but take care of the ball.

- STEAL AND SLAM HOUSTON. Cougars up three and Kansas has possession. But Mylik Wilson comes up with a steal and takes it all the way and THROWS IT DOWN. (Houston, 59-54 | 4:00, 2nd)

- Houston has scored 14 points off of 16 Kansas turnovers thus far.

- Kansas commits its 16th turnover on the night. Houston seems to be on the verge of possibly breaking this open, as Mylik Wilson scores a reverse layup on the other end. (Houston, 57-50 | 5:27, 2nd)

- Emanuel Sharp back in and converted a step-back jumper. We're at the under-8 time out and Houston is in foul trouble, trying to fend off the Jayhawks, who are now in the bonus. (Houston, 50-48 | 7:36, 2nd)

- Mylik Wilson just picked up his third foul. Wilson and Uzan now with three fouls, and LJ Cryer with four, and has yet to come back in. (Houston, 50-48 | 8:00, 2nd)

- Emanuel Sharp, who just made his first 3 on the night, banged his shoulder and is out of the game for now as we are at the midway point of the second half. (Houston, 48-42 | 10:00, 2nd)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Milos Uzan helping pick up the slack following LJ Cryer going to the bench after getting his fourth foul. Uzan hits his second 3 of the second half. (Houston, 45-41 | 11:15, 2nd)

- LJ Cryer just picked up his fourth foul as we go to the under-12 time out. (Houston, 42-39 | 11:59, 2nd)

- Down three, Houston is now on a 6-0 run and LJ Cryer is back on the court. He did not score during this current spurt. (Houston, 42-39 | 13:00, 2nd)

- Kansas takes the lead by hitting a 3 and getting a steal and turning that into a layup. Houston has shot just 29.2% from the field in the game. (Kansas, 37-36 | 14:45, 2nd)

- LJ Cryer just picked up his third foul and is now headed to the bench as Kansas gets within two after completing a three-point play. (Houston, 34-32 | 16:50, 2nd)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Milos Uzan eager to get something going and he does, knocking down a triple from the left corner. Houston lead up to seven. (Houston, 34-27 | 18:30, 2nd)

- Milos Uzan back on the court after sitting most of the first half after picking up his first foul.

- The second half is now under way.

HALFTIME STATS AND ANALYSIS

- Kansas outshot Houston in the first half, 41% to 31%, but the Jayhawks committed nine turnovers. Hunter Dickinson still with 6 points after having started out hot, and until his buzzer-beater to end the half, Zeke Mayo had been held scoreless. Houston also has 11 offensive rebounds to just two for Kansas.

- LJ Cryer has really been the difference in this game so far. He has 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and is also 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

FIRST HALF

- Houston appeared to end the half on a 7-0 run, capped by an offensive board and putback from Joseph Tugler, but Kansas' Zeke Mayo gets an off-balance shot at the buzzer to bounce through, and it's a three-point Cougar lead at the break. (Houston, 30-27 | Half)

- What a first half for LJ Cryer so far. He has scored 18 points, including giving Houston the lead once again with yet another 3-pointer. Then on the ensuing possession, he gets another shot to fall. (Houston, 28-25 | 1:00, 1st)

- Kansas now on a 7-0 run, capped off by a lob and a slam. (Kansas, 25-23 | 2:00, 1st)

- Milos Uzan still hasn't come back off the bench after picking up two fouls early.

- Kansas hanging tough with Houston, but the Jayhawks having trouble taking care of the ball at times. They already have eight turnovers on the night. (23-23 | 3:19, 1st)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Seconds after Kansas broke a 1-of-9 slump from the field by knocking down a 3-pointer, LJ Cryer comes up with another trey and Houston is up five at the under-8 time out. (Houston, 18-13 | 7:23, 1st)

- Finally at the first media time out seven minutes in. Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson has 6 of his team's 8 points, but the Cougars are doing a good job on the glass so far, getting five offensive rebounds. (Houston, 11-8 | 12:52, 1st)

- Wow, what a play by Emanuel Sharp. Sharp misses a basket but he gets to the glass and grabs the offensive rebound and sticks it back in. (Houston, 11-6 | 14:15, 1st)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. LJ Cryer knocks one down from the left corner to put the Coogs in front. (Houston, 7-6 | 16:07, 1st)

- Point guard Milos Uzan picked up two quick fouls and is now going to the bench. Emanuel Sharp coming in for the Cougars. (4-4 | 17:00, 1st)

- About to get under way here at the Fertitta Center. And what a great moment pregame with J'Wan Roberts and his coach, Kelvin Sampson.

PREGAME

- Houston is starting four of its seniors honored on Senior Night: LJ Cryer, J'Wan Roberts, Mylik Wilson and Ja'Vier Francis. The lone non-senior starter is Milos Uzan.

- Coming to you from the Fertitta Center as Houston holds its Senior Night as the Cougars take on Kansas.

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Buck Ringgold
BUCK RINGGOLD

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