Houston Cougars (AP) L.J. Cryer scored 22 points, J’Wan Roberts added 15 and top-ranked Houston won its sixth straight game by beating Cincinnati Bearcats 67-59 on Tuesday night.
One day after ascending to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time this season, the Cougars (25-3, 12-3 Big 12) extended their conference lead to 1 1/2 games over Iowa State.
“We’ve got a chance,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “That’s all it is - we’ve got a chance to win the Big 12. That’s our goal. We’d like to win the Big 12 because we have a chance.”
The Cougars have won 21 consecutive home games, the longest active streak in the nation.
Cryer had 15 points in the first half and Houston led 26-17 at the break. He finished 7 of 15 from the field and was 4 for 10 on 3-pointers.
Emanuel Sharp scored 11 and Jamal Shead had nine points and 11 assists for the Cougars, who shot 39% from the floor and went 18 of 27 at the free-throw line.
“L.J. had a really good night,” said Shead, who shot 2 for 11. “I tried to find him a lot. … My shot’s not falling, but I’m not the offense. We have four other guys out there, so just trying to get them involved and be the best I can on defense.”
Viktor Lakhin and Simas Lukosius each scored 11 points for Cincinnati (16-12, 5-10), which has lost five of six. The Bearcats shot 40% and went 5 of 19 on 3s. They also committed 19 turnovers.
“I think our guys can really compete against anybody,” coach Wes Miller said. “I believe they can compete with Houston’s team. I think they’ve shown that in the two games (this season), but we've got to get a little better to get over the hump and win the game.”
Leading 30-21 early in the second half, Houston went on an 8-0 run capped by consecutive 3s from Sharp with 17 1/2 minutes remaining to open a 17-point lead.
After trailing 59-46 with 2:47 left, Cincinnati used an 8-1 spurt to close within six on a layup by Dan Skillings Jr. with 1:26 to go. Cryer made two free throws with 1:12 remaining, and the Bearcats got no closer than six the rest of the way.
“Win the game,” Sampson said. “This is not a funeral. We are 25-3 and 12-3. This time of year, the last thing you do is evaluate.”
BIG PICTURE
Cincinnati: The Bearcats dropped to 3-8 in Quad 1 games and 4-6 on the road this season. … The 17 first-half points were a season low for any half.
Houston: The Cougars improved to 14-3 in Quad 1 and 2 games. … Houston won its 11th straight over Cincinnati. … It was the 11th time this season the Cougars held an opponent under 20 points in a half.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati: Will host Kansas State on Saturday.
Houston: Plays at Oklahoma on Saturday.
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1st Half
CINCY
Bearcats
17
HOU
Cougars
26
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Aziz Bandaogo vs. Ja'Vier Francis (Cougars gains possession)
19:45
J'Wan Roberts misses two point layup
19:43
Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
19:43
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point putback dunk
0-2
19:23
Dan Skillings Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:21
Day Day Thomas offensive rebound
19:20
Day Day Thomas misses two point jump shot
19:18
John Newman III offensive rebound
19:16
John Newman III misses two point layup
19:14
Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
18:49
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
0-4
18:29
John Newman III misses two point layup
18:27
Dan Skillings Jr. offensive rebound
18:25
Dan Skillings Jr. misses two point layup
18:23
Jamal Shead defensive rebound
18:10
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
18:08
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
18:02
Jamal Shead personal foul (Day Day Thomas draws the foul)
17:56
Simas Lukosius misses three point jump shot
17:53
Cougars defensive rebound
17:43
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
17:41
Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
17:35
John Newman III misses two point layup
17:33
Cougars defensive rebound
17:17
Simas Lukosius personal foul (J'Wan Roberts draws the foul)
17:10
Aziz Bandaogo blocks Emanuel Sharp's two point layup
17:08
L.J. Cryer offensive rebound
17:07
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot
0-7
16:39
+2
Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk (John Newman III assists)
2-7
16:25
Simas Lukosius personal foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
16:12
Emanuel Sharp turnover (lost ball)
15:59
Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
15:57
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
15:51
Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
15:49
Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
15:42
Day Day Thomas misses three point jump shot
15:40
Cougars defensive rebound
15:40
TV timeout
15:29
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point pullup jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
2-10
14:55
Bearcats turnover (shot clock violation)
14:40
L.J. Cryer misses two point jump shot
14:38
Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
14:26
J'Wan Roberts misses two point hook shot
14:24
Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
14:24
+2
Joseph Tugler makes two point tip layup
2-12
14:05
Jizzle James turnover (lost ball) (L.J. Cryer steals)
14:00
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point driving dunk (Jamal Shead assists)
2-14
14:00
Bearcats 30 second timeout
13:35
+2
Viktor Lakhin makes two point floating jump shot (Dan Skillings Jr. assists)
4-14
13:12
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
13:10
Viktor Lakhin defensive rebound
12:48
Jizzle James turnover (bad pass) (L.J. Cryer steals)
12:27
Joseph Tugler misses two point jump shot
12:25
Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
12:23
Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (out of bounds)
11:56
Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
11:54
Jamille Reynolds defensive rebound
11:35
Day Day Thomas misses two point jump shot
11:33
Viktor Lakhin offensive rebound
11:30
Simas Lukosius misses three point jump shot
11:28
Jamille Reynolds offensive rebound
11:25
Josh Reed misses three point jump shot
11:23
Viktor Lakhin offensive rebound
11:07
Day Day Thomas misses two point layup
11:05
Damian Dunn defensive rebound
11:05
Viktor Lakhin personal foul (Damian Dunn draws the foul)
11:05
TV timeout
10:46
+2
Mylik Wilson makes two point stepback jump shot
4-16
10:22
+2
Jamille Reynolds makes two point driving layup
6-16
10:08
Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
10:06
Cougars offensive rebound
9:54
Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
9:52
Viktor Lakhin defensive rebound
9:26
+2
Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk (Day Day Thomas assists)
8-16
9:06
Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
9:04
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
8:57
Ja'Vier Francis blocks Simas Lukosius's two point layup
8:55
Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
8:42
Aziz Bandaogo blocks Mylik Wilson's two point layup
8:40
Emanuel Sharp offensive rebound
8:33
Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
8:31
Simas Lukosius defensive rebound
8:11
+3
Simas Lukosius makes three point jump shot (Day Day Thomas assists)
11-16
7:41
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
7:39
Josh Reed defensive rebound
7:35
Josh Reed turnover (lost ball) (Ja'Vier Francis steals)
7:33
Josh Reed blocks Jamal Shead's two point layup
7:32
Cougars offensive rebound
7:32
TV timeout
7:18
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
11-18
7:18
John Newman III shooting foul (L.J. Cryer draws the foul)
7:18
+1
L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 1 of 1
11-19
6:49
Day Day Thomas misses three point jump shot
6:47
Aziz Bandaogo offensive rebound
6:46
J'Wan Roberts personal foul (Aziz Bandaogo draws the foul)
6:37
John Newman III misses two point jump shot
6:35
Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
6:11
Mylik Wilson turnover (out of bounds)
5:53
Ja'Vier Francis blocks Jamille Reynolds's two point jump shot
5:51
Jamille Reynolds offensive rebound
5:44
J'Wan Roberts shooting foul (Jamille Reynolds draws the foul)
5:44
+1
Jamille Reynolds makes regular free throw 1 of 2
12-19
5:44
+1
Jamille Reynolds makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-19
5:17
Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
5:15
John Newman III defensive rebound
5:11
John Newman III turnover (bad pass)
5:01
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
13-22
4:43
Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Emanuel Sharp steals)
4:38
Emanuel Sharp misses two point layup
4:36
Simas Lukosius defensive rebound
4:17
Jizzle James turnover (lost ball) (Emanuel Sharp steals)
4:03
Jamal Shead misses two point layup
4:01
Jamille Reynolds defensive rebound
3:42
Simas Lukosius turnover (bad pass) (Mylik Wilson steals)
3:30
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
3:28
Jamille Reynolds defensive rebound
3:07
Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
3:05
Cougars defensive rebound
3:04
TV timeout
2:45
Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
2:42
Bearcats defensive rebound
2:28
Josh Reed misses three point jump shot
2:26
Cougars defensive rebound
2:05
Dan Skillings Jr. personal foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul)
1:52
Day Day Thomas shooting foul (L.J. Cryer draws the foul)
1:52
L.J. Cryer misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:52
+1
L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-23
1:30
Ja'Vier Francis blocks Day Day Thomas's two point layup
1:28
Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
1:22
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
1:20
Josh Reed defensive rebound
1:09
Simas Lukosius turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals)
1:02
Jamal Shead turnover (lost ball) (Day Day Thomas steals)
0:46
+2
Viktor Lakhin makes two point driving layup
15-23
0:46
Cougars 30 second timeout
0:40
Jamal Shead turnover (traveling)
0:26
Ja'Vier Francis personal foul (Simas Lukosius draws the foul)
0:09
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point driving floating jump shot
17-23
0:01
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
17-26
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
CINCY
Bearcats
42
HOU
Cougars
41
Time
Team
Play
Score
0:00
—
19:48
Emanuel Sharp shooting foul (Aziz Bandaogo draws the foul)
19:48
Aziz Bandaogo misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:48
+1
Aziz Bandaogo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-26
19:25
Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
19:22
Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
19:22
Aziz Bandaogo personal foul (Ja'Vier Francis draws the foul)
19:11
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point driving hook shot (Jamal Shead assists)
18-28
18:54
Aziz Bandaogo turnover (bad pass)
18:47
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point driving floating jump shot
18-30
18:24
Dan Skillings Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:21
Bearcats offensive rebound
18:16
+3
Simas Lukosius makes three point jump shot (Day Day Thomas assists)
21-30
18:13
Aziz Bandaogo flagrant 1 (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
18:13
+1
Jamal Shead makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2
21-31
18:13
+1
Jamal Shead makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2
21-32
17:59
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
21-35
17:39
Dan Skillings Jr. misses two point jump shot
17:37
Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
17:32
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
21-38
17:29
Bearcats 30 second timeout
17:29
TV timeout
17:11
L.J. Cryer personal foul (Simas Lukosius draws the foul)
17:09
John Newman III turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Shead steals)
16:40
Ja'Vier Francis turnover (bad pass) (Aziz Bandaogo steals)
16:19
+2
Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk (Day Day Thomas assists)
23-38
16:00
Viktor Lakhin shooting foul (Ja'Vier Francis draws the foul)
16:00
TV timeout
16:00
Ja'Vier Francis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:00
Ja'Vier Francis misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:00
Viktor Lakhin defensive rebound
15:39
Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
15:37
L.J. Cryer defensive rebound
15:19
Aziz Bandaogo blocks Emanuel Sharp's two point layup
15:17
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
15:11
+2
Viktor Lakhin makes two point cutting layup (Day Day Thomas assists)
25-38
14:50
Emanuel Sharp misses two point jump shot
14:48
Viktor Lakhin defensive rebound
14:43
+2
Jizzle James makes two point driving dunk
27-38
14:25
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
27-41
14:10
Viktor Lakhin turnover (lost ball) (J'Wan Roberts steals)
14:02
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
14:00
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
13:38
Day Day Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals)
13:08
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
13:04
Cougars offensive rebound
12:58
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
12:56
J'Wan Roberts offensive rebound
12:41
L.J. Cryer misses two point jump shot
12:39
Jamille Reynolds defensive rebound
12:23
Dan Skillings Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:20
Jamille Reynolds offensive rebound
12:20
Joseph Tugler personal foul (Jamille Reynolds draws the foul)
12:18
Simas Lukosius turnover (bad pass) (Mylik Wilson steals)
12:16
Viktor Lakhin personal foul (Mylik Wilson draws the foul)
12:06
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point driving floating jump shot
27-43
12:06
Jizzle James shooting foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
12:06
Jamal Shead misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:06
John Newman III defensive rebound
11:52
+3
Simas Lukosius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)
30-43
11:34
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point cutting layup (L.J. Cryer assists)
30-45
11:16
TV timeout
11:11
John Newman III misses three point jump shot
11:09
Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
10:45
Ja'Vier Francis offensive foul (Jizzle James draws the foul)
10:45
Ja'Vier Francis turnover (offensive foul)
10:25
Jamal Shead kicked ball violation
10:12
+2
Jizzle James makes two point stepback jump shot (John Newman III assists)
32-45
9:53
Jamille Reynolds personal foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
9:44
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point cutting dunk (L.J. Cryer assists)
32-47
9:36
Damian Dunn personal foul (Dan Skillings Jr. draws the foul)
9:20
+3
Jizzle James makes three point pullup jump shot (John Newman III assists)
35-47
8:57
J'Wan Roberts turnover (bad pass)
8:46
+3
John Newman III makes three point jump shot (Simas Lukosius assists)
38-47
8:27
Cougars 30 second timeout
8:27
TV timeout
8:20
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point turnaround hook shot
