Houston Leads Big At Half: No. 2 Houston vs No. 10 Texas A&M Live Updates, Box Score
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It's a Texas rivalry reignited in March Madness once again. The No. 2 seed in the South Region, the Houston Cougars take on the No. 10 seed Texas A&M Aggies in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons.
Both teams are fighting for the chance to play close to home in Houston for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. Houston just faced Texas A&M in the second round of March Madness in 2024 in Memphis. That was the first meeting in the tournament between these programs and the Cougars won a thriller in overtime 100-95 to advance to their fifth straight Sweet 16.
These two Texas programs with contrasting styles face each other in the rematch in Oklahoma City. Houston enters with a 29-6 record and was second in the Big 12 this season with a 14-4 conference mark. The Cougars just beat the brakes out of No. 15 seed Idaho in the first round 78-47.
Four out of the five starters were in double digits and freshman point guard Kingston Flemings led the way with 18 points and six rebounds on 8/12 shooting. Senior guard Emanuel Sharp was second with 16 points and was 3/3 from three.
Coogs vs Aggies
Texas A&M is coming off an impressive 63-50 upset win over No. 7 Saint Mary's in the first round thanks to 18 turnovers. Graduate forward Rashaun Agee was the leading scorer with 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Ruben Dominguez was second with 11 points.
Agee is the leading scorer for the Aggies this season with 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Senior transfer guard Rylan Griffen stands second with 11.4 points per game but leads the team with 1.6 steals per contest. Graduate guard Marcus Hill is third with 10.6 points per game
This is coach Bucky McMillan's first year with Texas A&M and implementing "Bucky Ball" in College Station. This will be the first time he faces coach Kelvin Sampson and Houston.
The series between Texas A&M and Houston has been going on for more than 75 years and began in the 1950-51 season. Houston leads the series 55-32 and this will be just the second meeting in the NCAA Tournament between the two. UH has won the last two meetings and the Cougars are 6-1 in neutral site games against the Aggies.
Houston faces off against Texas A&M in Paycom Center in OKC. Be sure to check back here at tipoff for live updates as the game goes on.
Follow below for live updates as the game progresses.
Live Updates
1st Half | 2nd Half | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 46 | 42 | 88 |
Texas A&M | 28 | 29 | 57 |
Starting Lineup: G Kingston Flemings, G Milos Uzan, G Emanuel Sharp, F Joseph Tugler, F Chris Cenac Jr.
Under 16 Timeout: Houston 9, Texas A&M 10
The Aggies got out to a strong start and were up 8-4 after a three from Isaacs. Houston responded and a three from Sharp made it a one-point game.
Under 12 Timeout: Houston 25, Texas A&M 21
Back-to-back threes from Sharp and McCarty got the lead up to five before the Aggies cut it back down. Both teams were answering back and forth. Flemings' mid-range got the lead up to seven but a layup by Agee brought it down to four.
Under 8 Timeout: Houston 27, Texas A&M 24
The Aggies brought the lead down to one, and Cenac got a layup.
Under 4 Timeout: Houston 35, Texas A&M 24
Houston goes on an 8-0 run as the three starting guards all get involved. The defense ticked up a notch.
HALFTIME: Houston 46, Texas A&M 28
Houston finishes the period on an 11-4 run. The overall run was 19-4 heading into half and it was more than a six and a half minute scoring drought. Sharp was the leading scorer at half with 14 while Cenac added 10 points and five rebounds.
Under 16 Timeout: Houston 56, Texas A&M 33
The Cougars further extended the lead on a 8-0 run to start the second half that made the overall run 29-4. Flemings, Sharp and Uzan were quick to score. The game turned into a blowout.
Under 12 Timeout: Houston 64, Texas A&M 39
Mercy Miller was strong off the bench and Uzan knocked down a 3-pointer.
Under 8 Timeout: Houston 73, Texas A&M 49
The lead went up to 28 after another Uzan three. Tugler threw down a monster slam. The lead was brought down to 24 for A&M, but it was well in Houston's hands.
Under 4 Timeout: Houston 80, Texas A&M 55
Tugler made a second chance jumper and Sakho had a dunk as well. The Cougars get good practice at the free throw line.
FINAL: Houston 88, Texas A&M 57
This quickly turned into a complete blowout in the Coogs favor, Sharp was the leading scorer with 18 while Cenac Jr. added 17. Uzan added 15. Houston was +17 on the glass and had 19 offensive rebounds. Miller gave 12 off the bench. Houston will now play in its home city for the Sweet 16.
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Maanav Gupta is a staff writer for Houston Cougars on SI. He graduated from the University of Houston in the summer of 2025 with his bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in Spanish. Gupta spent three years at the student newspaper, The Daily Cougar, and also covered the 2025 Final Four and National Championship as Houston beat writer for College Basketball Review. He also has his own YouTube channel, Maanav’s Sports Talk, where he has interviewed professional athletes and broadcasters like Jim Nantz, Jose Altuve, J.J. Watt, Rich Eisen, and Alperen Sengun. Gupta was also a contributor to the Houston athletic program as a student. You can find Gupta on X, Instagram and TikTok @MGSportsTalk.