INDIANAPOLIS — In a display of defensive dominance, Houston secured its place in the Final Four by overpowering Tennessee with a 69-50 victory in the Midwest Region title game on Sunday. L.J. Cryer led with 17 points, while Emanuel Sharp contributed 14 out of his 16 points in the latter half, igniting Houston’s path to a historic NCAA Tournament moment. This monumental win, the Cougars’ 34th of the season, sets a new school record for victories and expands their current winning streak to 17 games.
Looking ahead, Houston is set to face Duke, a five-time national champion, on Saturday in a game held in San Antonio, a remarkably short journey from Houston’s campus. Before focusing on the future, the Cougars are taking time to reflect on their journey to this celebratory moment, one that eluded them in their previous two attempts where they fell in the Sweet 16.
“A lot of people doubted us,” Emanuel Sharp remarked, highlighting the significance of reaching their first Final Four since 2021. Indeed, this achievement ranks as a strategic milestone for Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, offering him a third elusive shot at a national championship game. Houston previously reached the national title games in the 1980s, during the storied Phi Slama Jama era.
Sharp’s consecutive three-pointers were critical in diffusing a potential Tennessee comeback. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s shooters, Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey, each with 17 points, couldn’t lift their team to its first Final Four appearance. The Volunteers were unable to overcome the stingy defense of Houston, and for a second consecutive year, coach Rick Barnes saw his team fall short in a regional final.
Remarkably, Houston’s defense limited Tennessee to only 15 first-half points — the smallest first-half score in an Elite Eight game since 1979 and a record low for a top seed. “Emanuel was able to get a jump ball early, which I feel shook them up,” said Milos Uzan. This early disruption was crucial to keep their momentum steady. When Tennessee looked poised for recovery in the second half, Houston’s sharp shooters quickly regained a 17-point lead.
Tennessee’s struggle was evident as they missed their first 14 3-point attempts, finally hitting one just before halftime. The team’s key players, Lanier and Zakai Zeigler, struggled under Houston’s defensive pressure, completing only five of their 27 attempts. Reflecting on the loss, Coach Barnes expressed his support for Zeigler, who apologized despite his efforts: “He said, ‘I’m sorry,’” Barnes shared. “But he’s got nothing to apologize for because he gave everything he had.”
While Tennessee bids farewell to their March aspiration, Houston is intently focused on its upcoming encounter against Duke. “That’s what we’ll do next week — jump on the interstate and head down to San Antonio,” Sampson noted, drawing a parallel to the enthusiastic presence of Tennessee fans.
First-half scoring lows in NCAA history remind us of Georgetown’s 1984 team, which similarly scored 16 and emerged champions. Houston’s performance further underlines the tactical depth of college basketball’s gritty side. Observers like Peyton Manning and Jim Nantz, who follow their respective alma maters avidly, hint at the passion that fuels this exhilarating tournament.