No. 5 Houston clamps down, stifles UCF

Field Level Media|published: Sat 20th January, 16:45 2024

Jan 20, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars guard L.J. Cryer (4) drives with the ball as UCF Knights guard Jaylin Sellers (24) defends during the first half at Fertitta Center. credits: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

LJ Cryer recorded 16 points and four steals and No. 5 Houston played suffocating defense while notching a 57-42 victory over visiting UCF in Big 12 play Saturday.

Jamal Shead added 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Cougars (16-2, 3-2 Big 12), who defeated UCF for the eighth straight time and 12th in the past 13 meetings. Ja'Vier Francis added 10 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots for Houston.

The Cougars limited the Knights to 15.9 percent shooting (7 of 44) from the field and 4 of 21 from 3-point range. UCF missed its first 19 two-point attempts before finally making one nearly 30 minutes into the contest.

Marchelus Avery led the Knights (11-6, 2-3) with 10 points despite making just 1 of 9 from the field. UCF began the game by missing 10 straight field-goal attempts and later missed its first nine of the second half.

The Cougars shot a shaky 34.5 percent from the field, including 6 of 18 from 3-point range. Houston forced 15 UFC turnovers and led by as many as 25 points.

Cryer made three first-half 3-pointers and had 13 points as Houston led 28-14 at the break. UCF was just 3 of 24 shooting (12.5 percent) in the half and missed all 15 of its two-point attempts.

The Cougars scored the game's first eight points, capped by Cryer's trey with 14:59 left in the half. Cryer hit another 3-pointer to make it 13-2 with 11:40 left.

The Knights' streak of 10 straight missed shots ended when Thierno Sylla knocked down a 3-pointer with 10:34 left. Sylla also made UCF's second basket, a trey that cut Houston's lead to 13-10 with 7:29 left.

The Cougars responded with a 11-1 run to open up a 13-point lead with 2:06 left in the half.

Houston quickly expanded its 14-point halftime advantage to 20 when Shead made a 3-pointer to make it 37-17 with 13:29 remaining in the game.

Omar Payne scored inside for UCF's first two-point hoop of the game with 10:18 remaining in the contest. That elevated the Knights' shooting to 4 of 34 overall as they trailed 37-20.

The Cougars answered with a 10-2 burst to increase their lead to 25. Shead hit two free throws to make it 47-22 with 8:37 left.

—Field Level Media

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