INDIANAPOLIS — In preparation for the tense matchup against Purdue, the Houston Cougars spent time this week perfecting an inbound play that could prove crucial. This strategic practice, instilled by coach Kelvin Sampson, paid off magnificently when Milos Uzan, the third option in the play, executed it flawlessly.
As the seconds ticked down, Uzan tossed the ball to Joseph Tugler, who quickly returned a bounce pass. The 6-foot-4 guard then skillfully maneuvered past defenders for an open layup with only 0.9 seconds left on the clock, securing the top-seeded Cougars a hard-fought 62-60 victory and a spot against the second-seeded Tennessee in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
“Excellent execution when we needed it most,” remarked Sampson, who stands on the brink of reaching his third Final Four and second with Houston in five years. “You never know when such moments will arise.”
Throughout the final stretch of the game, the Cougars (33-4), who had only managed one other successful basket in the last eight minutes, saw their 10-point lead diminish. Additionally, they missed two crucial shots as the game neared the 5-second mark. However, a replay review with 2.2 seconds remaining confirmed that the possession remained with Houston after the ball went out of bounds following their second miss.
Uzan then took center stage. “I was aiming to pass to L.J. Cryer, but JoJo made a brilliant read. Drawing two defenders, he perfectly passed the ball back to me,” Uzan explained.
This victory has propelled Houston into the Elite Eight for the third time in five years, a refreshing change after exiting in the Sweet 16 during the last two instances of March Madness. They now carry the nation’s longest winning streak—16 games—into Sunday’s Midwest Region final.
The Cougars are accompanied by the other three No. 1 seeds in this year’s Elite Eight. This triumph was achieved at the Lucas Oil Stadium, the same venue where their 2021 tournament journey concluded with a Final Four loss to former national champion Baylor. Notably, they have remained unbeaten since February 1st.
Scoring was led by Uzan with 22 points, complemented by Emanuel Sharp’s 17, despite a subdued performance from leading scorer Cryer, who managed just five points from 2-of-13 shooting.
The nail-biting conclusion saw Houston holding firm against a last-second half-court attempt from Purdue’s Braden Smith, which fell far from the basket.
For Purdue (24-12), Fletcher Loyer netted 16 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn added 14, and Smith, awarded the Big Ten player of the year, contributed seven points along with 15 assists. Increasing pressure in a venue filled with local fans, a mere hour away from their West Lafayette campus, the opposition put up a fierce battle.
“We gave it our all, especially digging deep on defense to regain control,” Smith commented. “We tried everything but had a misstep at the end, giving Houston the chance they needed.”
Houston faced a near crisis when Kaufman-Renn scored a dunk, followed by blocking Cryer’s attempt, which led to a three-pointer by Camden Heide, leveling the game at 60 with only 35 seconds left on the clock.
Sampson immediately called a timeout to strategize the final play, yet Uzan’s turnaround jumper and Tugler’s tip-in both missed. But, fortunately for Houston, the replay gave them one more opportunity.
Early in the second half, Sharp’s scoring burst allowed Houston to pull away after a closely contested first half. His three-pointer at the 16:14 mark extended the lead to 40-32. Although Purdue reduced the gap to four, Uzan’s subsequent three-pointers established a 10-point advantage in what was an intense, physically demanding game, culminating in an exciting finish.
“Smith guarded the inbounder, which meant JoJo was taken, leaving Milos unguarded,” Sampson explained. “This is what constant practice accomplishes.”
Key Takeaways:
Purdue: Despite entering March Madness shakily after losing six of their last nine games, coach Matt Painter’s squad demonstrated their prowess, advancing to the Sweet 16 and nearly toppling a No. 1 seed.
Houston: The Cougars boast the best combination of 3-point shooting accuracy and scoring defense nationally, making them formidable opponents.
A concerned moment arose for Houston when guard Mylik Wilson suffered a fall with 13:23 remaining in the game. While leaping for a rebound, Wilson was undercut and fell unexpectedly, hitting his head. Although he stayed down to recover momentarily, he managed to continue playing after.