No. 1 Houston uses defense to roll past TCU and reach Big 12 semis

Field Level Media|published: Thu 14th March, 17:52 2024

Mar 9, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson reacts during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Fertitta Center. credits: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Emanuel Sharp scored 14 points and Jamal Shead added 12 as top-ranked Houston put on a defensive display in a 60-45 win over TCU on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City. Mo.

The Cougars (29-3), the No. 1 seed in this event, advance to play fourth-seeded Texas Tech (an 81-67 winner over BYU on Thursday), in Friday's semifinals.

The Horned Frogs (21-12), the eighth seed, bow out of the conference tourney but are projected to be an at-large pick for the NCAA Tournament.

Houston's stifling defense held TCU to just 23.3 percent shooting from the floor, and 2 of 20 from beyond the arc. The Cougars, who have won 10 straight games, dominated despite being outrebounded 55-39 and 30-9 on the offensive glass.

J'Wan Roberts took 10 rebounds for Houston in the win

Micah Peavy led the Horned Frogs with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston set the pace early on, producing the game's first 16 points and not allowing the Horned Frogs to score until Micah Peavy's second-chance layup at the 10:20 mark of the first half. TCU missed its first 17 shots from the floor.

The Cougars still led 20-6 after a layup by Roberts with 6:30 to play in the half. The Horned Frogs used buckets from Charles O'Bannon Jr. and Xavier Cork and a free throw by Trevian Tennyson to pull within nine points with 4:09 left. Houston responded an 11-4 run capped by L.J. Cryer's 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining to expand its advantage to 31-15 at the break.

Cryer and Roberts led all scorers with eight points each before halftime. The Horned Frogs shot just 18.9 percent in the first half but stayed within shouting distance thanks to 18 offensive rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play; 10 of the Horned Frogs' 15 points in the half came on second-chance opportunities.

Houston's defense was again the difference early in the second half, holding the Horned Frogs scoreless for nearly the first five minutes after halftime. The Cougars led 44-21 when Shead hit a pair of free throws with 13:27 to play.

—Field Level Media

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