In Kansas City, Missouri, the Houston Cougars showcased a dominating performance to defeat the BYU Cougars 74-54 in the Big 12 Tournament semi-finals, securing their place in the championship game for the second year running. Emanuel Sharpe led the charge with an impressive 26 points, while LJ Cryer contributed 20 points to the team’s success.
The top-seeded Cougars, now riding a 12-game winning streak, will face Arizona in the finals. Despite missing their leading rebounder J’Wan Roberts due to an ankle sprain he sustained during the quarterfinals against Colorado, Houston managed to dominate with Milos Uzan adding 14 points and Mylik Wilson grabbing 13 rebounds.
Houston’s defensive prowess was evident as they forced BYU to miss their initial nine shots, including seven attempts from the three-point line. Coach Kevin Young’s squad had previously set a Big 12 Tournament record with 18 three-pointers in a high-scoring game against Iowa State. However, in this encounter, BYU struggled from the outset, allowing Houston to establish an early 15-0 lead that proved insurmountable.
Although BYU narrowed the deficit to 13 points midway through the second half, they failed to mount a substantial comeback. Keba Keita provided a solid performance for BYU with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while teammates Dawson Baker and Richie Saunders chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Takeaways from the match include BYU’s continued drought in capturing a conference tournament title, which dates back to their Mountain West days in 2001. Houston demonstrated why they are considered the nation’s best team in defensive efficiency.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Sharpe scored on a four-point play with 13:40 remaining in the first half, solidifying Houston’s 15-0 start. Houston has, on average, outscored BYU by 25.5 points in their encounters this season.
Next, Houston will contend against Arizona for the coveted Big 12 title, seeking to extend their impressive streak and claim championship glory.
