Houston beats ‘Zona for Big 12 title, eyes 1-seed

Mar 15, 2025, 08:52 PM ET KANSAS CITY, Mo.– Houston had actually crowded onto the podium inside T-Mobile Center on Saturday night, and the second-ranked Cougars were beginning to commemorate their Big 12 competition title, when Emanuel Sharp was handed a champion belt as the tourney MVP.He raised it high above his head– upside down.It was almost the only apparent error that anyone from Houston made all week.Editor’s Picks

1 Associated Milos Uzan poured in 25 points versus Arizona in the finale, Sharp included 17 in another dazzling effort, and the Cougars showed up their trademark defense in the final minute to hold on for a 72-64 success over the Huge 12 newcomer.Playing without injured big guy J’Wan Roberts, the Cougars (30-4)took a 64-62 lead on Uzan’s 3-pointer with 5 minutes to go, then suffocated the Wildcats (22-12) down the stretch to avenge a loss to Iowa State in last year’s title game. “We did an excellent job of staying together,”stated Sharp, who was signed up with by Uzan and Big 12 player of the year L.J. Cryer on the all-tournament group.” That’s what coach has actually been preaching. Which’s why I love this group.”Houston romped to the regular-season Big 12 title, winning 19 of 20 games in the broadened league. And it was simply as dominant in 3 games in Kansas City, easily beating Colorado and No. 17 BYU before reversing red-hot Arizona for the trophy.Houston probably secured a No. 1 seed on Choice Sunday and will most likely start its NCAA competition in Wichita, Kansas.” We never panic,”Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said.”A great deal of people around us do, however thank god they’re not coaches and players.

We’ve remained in these bunkers. We have actually existed when it is difficult. We have actually found out to internalize and practically get independent of everything around us. We get in a bunker and think in each other and get to work.” Cougars safeguard Emanuel Sharp was called Big 12 tournament MVP after his 17-point efficiency in Saturday’s 72-64 victory over Arizona. William Purnell-Imagn Images Houston(30-4 )protected its fourth straight 30-win season, tying for the second-longest streak in Division I history, according to ESPN research study. Gonzaga published five straight

30-win seasons from 2016-21. Caleb Love scored 19 points, Jaden Bradley added 14 and KJ Lewis completed with 11 for the Wildcats.”It was a tough year. A tough conference. And for us to compete with the very best of the best,

you understand, as far as conferences, I’m proud of my guys,”Love said.” I’m simply happy we made it this far, and we’ll

be all set for March Madness.”Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd had actually bristled after their quarterfinal win over No. 9 Texas Tech when it was recommended that the title tilt totaled up to a showdown of styles: Arizona’s high-scoring offense versus Houston’s dominant defense

.”We’re not that bad on defense,” Lloyd countered succinctly.Turns out the Wildcats are rather good.They harried and harassed Houston’s guards anywhere they went on the floor, twice holding the Cougars without a point for five-minute stretches in the very first half. The result was a 33-28 lead in the locker room that felt simply a little bit bigger.Yet there is a factor that Houston

is No. 1 nationally in defensive efficiency.The Cougars were still tracking 40-37 when they clamped down on the Wildcats, turning defense into offense and outscoring them 19-6 over the next 5 minutes. By the time Uzan curled in a pail with 11:40 to go, Houston had taken a 56-46 lead– the largest of the whole game for either team.Arizona gamely fought back to take a 62-61 lead, only for the ruthless Cougars to regain the lead seconds

later on, when Uzan dropped his 3-pointer. He scored once again on their occurring belongings, and Houston maintained its lead from there.The result was its 3rd conference tourney title in five years after the pair it won in the American Athletic Conference.”Certainly they’ve had a fantastic season, and a terrific couple of seasons, and Coach Sampson should have a ton of credit. They got us twice this year,”Lloyd said.”They won the conference by 4 or five. They won the conference tournament. At this minute they are the kings of the Huge 12. I have absolutely nothing however respect for them.

“Injury Update Roberts, who sprained his ideal ankle in the quarterfinals, went through pregame warmups without the strolling boot he used a day previously. But he had the boot back on as he saw from the bench in the hopes of playing in the NCAA tournament.Information from The Associated was utilized in this report.