MANHATTAN, Kansas — In a dominant performance, the No. 12 Houston Cougars overwhelmed Kansas State with a decisive 87-57 victory on Saturday. Emanuel Sharp led the way with 15 points, while Joseph Tugler contributed 13 points along with 10 rebounds. This win marked Houston’s eighth consecutive triumph and their first visit to Manhattan since 1971. Last season, the Cougars had also defeated the Wildcats by a margin of 22 points during their initial matchup as members of the Big 12.
Houston managed to establish a comfortable 46-24 lead by halftime, fueled by two significant scoring bursts of 16-2 and 18-3. Although Kansas State found a moment of hope midway through the second half, narrowing the deficit to 60-46 with just under 10 minutes left, the Cougars responded by rattling off 12 straight points to seal their victory.
On the Wildcats’ side, Brendan Hausen was a standout performer with 15 points, including five successful three-pointers. However, Kansas State suffered a setback in rebounding, being outmatched on the boards 44 to 20, and was significantly outscored in the paint, with a staggering 52-18 disparity. Max Jones also contributed to the team’s efforts with his 13 points and four assists.
In terms of takeaways, Houston’s defense had previously held their last seven opponents to 55 points or fewer, but they demonstrated an ability to score efficiently from various areas on the court against the Wildcats. Kansas State has struggled with allowing crucial runs in recent games, highlighted by Oklahoma State’s 15-0 run that led to their recent loss, mirroring the Cougars’ powerful scoring surges that determined the outcome of this match.
A critical moment in the game came early when Kansas State held a fleeting 9-5 advantage, but Sharp’s first three-pointer ignited Houston’s impressive 16-2 run that gave them a lead they never lost. A noteworthy statistic from the contest is that Houston did not commit a turnover until there were 13:03 remaining in the game, finishing with only five turnovers total.
Looking ahead, Houston will face off against No. 21 West Virginia on Wednesday evening, while Kansas State is set to play against Texas Tech on Tuesday night.
