Sports
#6/6 Men's Basketball Knocks off Utah – University of Houston Athletics – Official athletic site of University of Houston
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball |
vs. Dayton
11/19/2023 | 7:30 p.m. CST
ESPN
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson knows there’s plenty of work ahead for his sixth-ranked Cougars, even though they keep winning.
Senior guard LJ Cryer scored 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers after Utah had wiped out the sixth-ranked Cougars’ 14-point lead, and Houston beat the Utes 76-66 inside TD Arena on Friday to reach the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic championship game.
“My kids found a way to win. We didn’t shoot the ball well tonight. We didn’t make free throws,” Sampson said. “Sometimes the culture of your program, your DNA, knows how to win games like this.”
The Cougars shot 33% on 3s (8-of-24) and made only half of their 24 free throws. Still, they used the late rally to improve to 5-0 for the second straight season and reach the title game against Dayton on Sunday night.
“We’re still finding our way,” Sampson said. “But a game like today is what tournament play is about. You’ve got to get outside the box.”
The Utes trailed 50-36 in the second half before Gabe Madsen hit three of his eight 3-pointers during a 20-6 run to tie it at 56-all with seven minutes left.
Sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux broke the tie with a bucket before Cryer, a Baylor transfer, hit two from beyond the arc to put the Cougars ahead 64-58. Utah would not rally again.
Madsen finished with a career-high 29 points for Utah (3-1), and Branden Carlson scored 17.
Sophomore guard Emanuel Sharp led the Cougars with 15 points, and senior point guard Jamal Shead had 14 points with six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Senior forward J’Wan Roberts had his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Utah was coming off a 77-70 win over Wake Forest in Thursday’s opening round that included a career-high 31 points from Carlson.
The Utes were ahead 16-15 on Carlson’s basket with 12:14 to go. Houston responded with a 24-14 run the rest of the half to lead 39-30 at the break.
BIG PICTURE
Utah: The Utes’ size will give Pac-12 teams plenty of fits this season. They feature a pair of 7-footers in Carlson and Lawson Lovering and have eight players at 6-foot-7 or taller. Houston’s speed and defense kept Utah from taking full advantage of its size.
Houston: The Cougars are breaking in new players, including Cryer, who helped Baylor to a national title as a freshman. Sampson said he was drawing up plays down the stretch because of all the new faces who are unfamiliar with the Cougar way. Playing three games in four days – the tournament takes Saturday off in deference to college football – should help the bonding process.
ON THE ROAD
Houston’s Sampson quipped that it would be his team’s “first true road game” on Sunday because of the loud, large group of Dayton supporters who filled the College of Charleston’s arena. The Flyers and Cougars are both trying for their first Charleston title. Dayton has finished sixth and fifth in two previous appearances. This is Houston’s first time at the eight-team tournament.
LONG TIME COMING
These teams met only once previously, back in December 1982 at the Suntory Ball Tournament in Tokyo when Houston’s Phi Slama Jama was in full flight. and led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Olajuwon had 30 points and 18 rebounds in the 82-57 victory.
Utah and Houston won’t wait another 41 years before playing again. Both will be Big 12 Conference members next season.
UP NEXT
• Following Friday’s game, Houston continues its stay at the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.
• The Cougars meet Dayton in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Championship Title Game at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Sunday. That game can be seen on ESPN.
• All Houston Men’s Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.
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– UHCougars.com –
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vs. Dayton
11/19/2023 | 7:30 p.m. CST
ESPN