HOUSTON — L.J. Cryer was instrumental in leading Houston to victory, contributing 20 points as fourth-ranked Houston secured the Big 12 regular-season title outright for the second consecutive season. The Cougars triumphed over Cincinnati with a score of 73-64 on Saturday.
Terrance Arceneaux supported Houston’s efforts by adding 10 points. Houston, now standing at 25-4 overall and 17-1 in the Big 12, has achieved an eight-game winning streak. The Cougars marked a historical milestone as the first team to clinch regular-season championships in its initial two seasons within a major conference, a feat not accomplished since Idaho’s success in the early 1920s. The transition to the Big 12 was accomplished by Houston in 2023.
In a matchup that extended Houston’s dominance over Cincinnati to 12 straight victories, the Cougars showcased impressive shooting by hitting 54% of their shots. They capitalized on turnovers, gaining a significant 17-9 points advantage in this aspect.
The Bearcats’ scorers included Day Day Thomas, who posted 19 points, and Jizzle James, who added 18. Cincinnati finished the game shooting 44%, but struggled with long-range shots, sinking only six of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc.
Takeaways from the game indicate that Cincinnati missed a vital opportunity to strengthen their bid for an NCAA Tournament spot, succumbing to a 1-10 record in Quad 1 games for the season.
As for Houston, they bolstered their case for securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, notching their 21st win in their last 22 games. Currently holding a 15-4 record in Quad 1 and 2 games, all of Houston’s setbacks have occurred in Quad 1 matchups.
The tide turned for Houston with a crucial moment in the first half. Houston was initially trailing 10-2 with over 13 minutes remaining, prompting coach Kelvin Sampson to call a timeout. Emerging from the timeout, Cryer hit a crucial jumper igniting an 18-2 run, which had Houston leading 37-25 by halftime.
A key statistic from the game underscored Houston’s dominance in the paint, where they outscored Cincinnati 40-24.
Looking ahead, Houston is set to host Kansas on Monday, while Cincinnati prepares to face Kansas State on Wednesday.
