Top-ranked Houston claims Big 12 regular-season title with 76-46 win over No. 14 Kansas
AP
Mar 10, 2024
Houston Cougars (AP) Jamal Shead had 13 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Damian Dunn added 12 points and No. 1 Houston claimed the Big 12 regular-season title in its first season in the conference, dominating No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks 76-46 on Saturday.
L.J. Cryer scored 11 points and J’Wan Roberts had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars (28-3, 15-3), who shot 46% from the field and hit 6 3-pointers on the way to a 40-21 lead at the half.
“Showing them what we’ve been doing all year,” Shead said. “They didn’t get our best shot at Kansas, we got theirs. I guess we gave them our best shot today.”
Houston shot 44% for the game and hit 11 of 29 shots from long distance, while forcing 18 turnovers and converting them into 30 points.
“It’s gratifying,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said of winning the Big 12. “I’m happy for everybody. There’s so many people that have an inferior complex about ... we’re the University of Houston. This is a damn good school. We live in a damn good city, and we’re a damn good basketball program. We should never ever, ever, ever take a backseat to anybody.”
The Cougars closed out their regular season by winning their ninth straight game and extending their home winning streak to 22 games.
“It’s almost like people thought the only teams we played were American (Athletic Conference),” Sampson said of Houston's former conference. “You don’t get to the Final Four or Elite Eight or Sweet Sixteen without beating other really, really good teams. The only difference was playing them every night, but they had to play us, too.”
Hunter Dickinson had 11 points and six rebounds for Kansas, but left with 11:08 remaining holding his right shoulder after battling for a rebound.
Kansas coach Bill Self said Dickinson dislocated his shoulder, but it popped back in.
“He will have an MRI to see what the diagnosis is and try to get a gameplan moving forward for him,” Self said.
Kevin McCullar Jr., who tweaked his knee earlier in the week against Kansas State, was scoreless in 15 minutes in the first half. He didn’t play in the second half.
“Kevin, he hadn’t done anything since K-State much, and then, today, he felt better, thought he’d try,” Self said. “I wish we wouldn’t have played Kev. It’s a pretty level of concern when your two best players are questionable moving forward.”
Self added that it was too soon to know if either would be available for the upcoming Big 12 Tournament.
Kansas (22-9, 10-8) has lost three of its last four games. The Jayhawks shot 33% and were 3 for 21 from 3-point distance.
Houston controlled the first half, charging to a 34-9 lead. Kansas missed 10 straight field goal attempts at one point.
The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting on Feb. 3 in Lawrence when Kansas jumped out to a 23-11 lead and shot 69% en route to a 78-65 win.
BIG PICTURE
Kansas: The Jayhawks’ lost for the sixth time in seven games on the road.
Houston: The Cougars won their 12th regular-season conference championship and fifth in the last six seasons under coach Kelvin Sampson.
UP NEXT
Kansas: Opens the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday or Thursday in Kansas City.
Houston: Opens the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed on Thursday in the quarterfinals in Kansas City.
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1st Half
KAN
Jayhawks
21
HOU
Cougars
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Cougars gains possession)
19:44
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
19:42
KJ Adams Jr. defensive rebound
19:15
Hunter Dickinson misses two point jump shot
19:13
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
19:06
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot
0-2
18:48
+2
KJ Adams Jr. makes two point jump shot (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists)
2-2
18:16
Jump ball. Ryan Elvin vs. KJ Adams Jr. (KJ Adams Jr. gains possession)
18:16
Ryan Elvin turnover (lost ball) (KJ Adams Jr. steals)
17:59
L.J. Cryer personal foul
17:57
Johnny Furphy misses three point jump shot
17:55
Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound
17:55
Ja'Vier Francis personal foul
17:37
Kevin McCullar Jr. misses two point jump shot
17:35
Jayhawks offensive rebound
17:34
Jayhawks turnover (shot clock violation)
17:20
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
17:18
Cougars offensive rebound
17:15
Hunter Dickinson personal foul
17:15
+3
Jamal Shead makes three point jump shot (Emanuel Sharp assists)
2-5
17:01
Johnny Furphy turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals)
16:57
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point layup
2-7
16:40
Emanuel Sharp personal foul
16:33
KJ Adams Jr. misses two point jump shot
16:31
L.J. Cryer defensive rebound
16:18
Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
16:16
KJ Adams Jr. defensive rebound
16:07
Johnny Furphy misses two point jump shot
16:05
Jayhawks offensive rebound
15:51
Hunter Dickinson misses two point jump shot
15:49
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
15:35
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (Jamal Shead assists)
2-9
15:15
Johnny Furphy misses three point jump shot
15:13
Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
14:50
Jamal Shead misses two point layup
14:48
KJ Adams Jr. defensive rebound
14:43
Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (KJ Adams Jr. draws the foul)
14:43
TV timeout
14:43
+1
KJ Adams Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
3-9
14:43
+1
KJ Adams Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-9
14:25
Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
14:25
Cedric Lath offensive rebound
14:25
Kevin McCullar Jr. personal foul
14:14
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot
4-11
13:45
Nicolas Timberlake misses three point jump shot
13:43
KJ Adams Jr. offensive rebound
13:30
Kevin McCullar Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:28
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
13:18
Hunter Dickinson blocks L.J. Cryer's three point jump shot
13:16
Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound
13:08
Kevin McCullar Jr. turnover (bad pass)
12:53
L.J. Cryer misses two point jump shot
12:51
Dajuan Harris Jr. defensive rebound
12:46
Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Cedric Lath steals)
12:39
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
4-14
12:34
Jayhawks 30 second timeout
12:26
Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover (bad pass) (L.J. Cryer steals)
12:05
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point layup (Jamal Shead assists)
4-16
11:43
Hunter Dickinson misses two point jump shot
11:41
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
11:32
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (L.J. Cryer assists)
4-19
11:28
Jayhawks 30 second timeout
11:28
TV timeout
11:19
Kevin McCullar Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:17
Jayhawks offensive rebound
11:12
Cedric Lath shooting foul (Dajuan Harris Jr. draws the foul)
11:12
Dajuan Harris Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:12
+1
Dajuan Harris Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
5-19
10:48
Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
10:46
Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound
10:32
Hunter Dickinson turnover (lost ball)
10:20
+3
Damian Dunn makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
5-22
10:04
+2
Dajuan Harris Jr. makes two point layup
7-22
9:46
Johnny Furphy shooting foul (Damian Dunn draws the foul)
9:46
+1
Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 1 of 2
7-23
9:46
+1
Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-24
9:31
J'Wan Roberts blocks KJ Adams Jr.'s two point jump shot
9:29
Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound
9:24
Hunter Dickinson misses two point jump shot
9:22
Jamal Shead defensive rebound
9:14
Damian Dunn misses three point jump shot
9:12
Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound
8:59
+2
KJ Adams Jr. makes two point dunk (Hunter Dickinson assists)
9-24
8:35
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
8:35
Mylik Wilson offensive rebound
8:35
+2
Mylik Wilson makes two point hook shot
9-26
8:20
Dajuan Harris Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:18
Damian Dunn defensive rebound
8:01
Damian Dunn misses three point jump shot
7:59
Nicolas Timberlake defensive rebound
7:42
KJ Adams Jr. turnover (lost ball) (J'Wan Roberts steals)
7:31
KJ Adams Jr. blocks Jamal Shead's two point jump shot
7:31
Jamal Shead offensive rebound
7:31
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
7:29
Emanuel Sharp offensive rebound
7:20
+3
Damian Dunn makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
9-29
7:16
Jayhawks 30 second timeout
7:16
TV timeout
6:59
Elmarko Jackson turnover (out of bounds)
6:34
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (J'Wan Roberts assists)
9-32
6:21
Elmarko Jackson misses three point jump shot
6:19
Jamal Shead defensive rebound
6:11
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
6:09
J'Wan Roberts offensive rebound
6:01
Mylik Wilson misses three point jump shot
5:59
Nicolas Timberlake defensive rebound
5:54
Elmarko Jackson offensive foul
5:54
Elmarko Jackson turnover (offensive foul)
5:41
Dajuan Harris Jr. personal foul
5:34
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point layup
9-34
5:05
+2
Hunter Dickinson makes two point hook shot
11-34
4:36
J'Wan Roberts offensive foul
4:36
J'Wan Roberts turnover (offensive foul)
4:23
Mylik Wilson personal foul
4:23
+1
Johnny Furphy makes regular free throw 1 of 2
12-34
4:23
+1
Johnny Furphy makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-34
4:09
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
4:07
Jamal Shead offensive rebound
4:02
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
4:00
Johnny Furphy defensive rebound
3:50
Kevin McCullar Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:48
Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
3:24
L.J. Cryer turnover (lost ball) (Dajuan Harris Jr. steals)
3:08
+3
Johnny Furphy makes three point jump shot (Hunter Dickinson assists)
16-34
2:38
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot
16-36
2:23
L.J. Cryer blocks Johnny Furphy's three point jump shot
2:21
Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
2:16
+2
Mylik Wilson makes two point alley-oop dunk (L.J. Cryer assists)
16-38
1:57
+2
Hunter Dickinson makes two point hook shot (Johnny Furphy assists)
18-38
1:25
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
1:23
Jayhawks defensive rebound
1:23
TV timeout
1:15
Johnny Furphy turnover (bad pass) (Mylik Wilson steals)
1:05
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
1:03
Johnny Furphy defensive rebound
1:03
Emanuel Sharp personal foul
1:03
+1
Johnny Furphy makes regular free throw 1 of 2
19-38
1:03
Johnny Furphy misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:03
Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound
1:02
Cedric Lath personal foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul)
1:02
Hunter Dickinson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:02
Hunter Dickinson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:02
Jamal Shead defensive rebound
0:56
Cougars 30 second timeout
0:47
KJ Adams Jr. personal foul
0:45
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
19-40
0:12
Cedric Lath shooting foul (KJ Adams Jr. draws the foul)
0:12
+1
KJ Adams Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-40
0:12
+1
KJ Adams Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-40
0:01
L.J. Cryer turnover (lost ball) (KJ Adams Jr. steals)
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
KAN
Jayhawks
25
HOU
Cougars
36
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:43
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (J'Wan Roberts assists)
21-42
19:29
Hunter Dickinson misses two point layup
19:27
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
18:57
Emanuel Sharp turnover (bad pass)
18:36
J'Wan Roberts shooting foul (KJ Adams Jr. draws the foul)
18:36
KJ Adams Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:36
+1
KJ Adams Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
22-42
18:23
Jamari McDowell personal foul (J'Wan Roberts draws the foul)
18:21
Jamal Shead turnover (bad pass)
18:02
Ja'Vier Francis personal foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul)
18:00
+2
Hunter Dickinson makes two point jump shot (Johnny Furphy assists)
24-42
17:39
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
17:37
Cougars offensive rebound
17:36
Hunter Dickinson personal foul (Ja'Vier Francis draws the foul)
17:34
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)
24-45
17:13
Jamari McDowell turnover (out of bounds)
16:53
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (L.J. Cryer assists)
24-47
16:42
Hunter Dickinson turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals)
16:33
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point layup
24-49
16:33
Jamari McDowell shooting foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
16:33
+1
Jamal Shead makes regular free throw 1 of 1
24-50
16:19
Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (KJ Adams Jr. draws the foul)
16:19
KJ Adams Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:19
KJ Adams Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:19
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
16:11
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (L.J. Cryer assists)
24-53
15:55
+2
Nicolas Timberlake makes two point jump shot
26-53
15:31
Jamal Shead misses two point layup
15:29
Nicolas Timberlake defensive rebound
15:18
+3
Johnny Furphy makes three point jump shot (Nicolas Timberlake assists)
29-53
14:58
L.J. Cryer misses two point jump shot
14:56
L.J. Cryer offensive rebound
14:51
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
14:49
Jayhawks defensive rebound
14:49
TV timeout
14:40
Johnny Furphy misses three point jump shot
14:38
Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
14:22
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point layup
29-55
14:00
Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Emanuel Sharp steals)
13:48
Damian Dunn misses three point jump shot
13:46
KJ Adams Jr. defensive rebound
13:27
Johnny Furphy misses two point jump shot
13:25
Jayhawks offensive rebound
13:16
Johnny Furphy turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Shead steals)
13:07
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
13:05
Jayhawks defensive rebound
12:58
Elmarko Jackson turnover (traveling)
12:35
+2
Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot
29-57
12:21
+3
Hunter Dickinson makes three point jump shot (Elmarko Jackson assists)
32-57
11:50
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
11:48
Johnny Furphy defensive rebound
11:38
+2
Hunter Dickinson makes two point jump shot (Johnny Furphy assists)
34-57
11:12
J'Wan Roberts misses two point layup
11:10
Cougars offensive rebound
11:10
TV timeout
10:50
Jamal Shead turnover (bad pass)
10:36
+2
Parker Braun makes two point layup (Johnny Furphy assists)
36-57
10:19
Elmarko Jackson personal foul (L.J. Cryer draws the foul)