No. 4 Houston clinches Big 12 regular-season title with 73-64 win over Cincinnati
AP
Mar 01, 2025
Houston Cougars (AP) L.J. Cryer scored 20 points and No. 4 Houston clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title for a second straight season with a 73-64 win over Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday.
Terrance Arceneaux added 10 points for Houston (25-4, 17-1 Big 12), which has won eight straight. The Cougars became the first team to win the regular-season championship in its first two years in a major conference since Idaho, which won the PCC in the 1921-22 and 1922-23 seasons. Houston joined the Big 12 in 2023.
The Cougars, who have won 12 straight over Cincinnati, shot 54% and owned a 17-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
Day Day Thomas scored 19 points and Jizzle James added 18 for Cincinnati (17-12, 7-11). The Bearcats shot 44% and were 6 of 20 on 3-pointers.
Cincinnati: The Bearcats missed a chance to improve their resume for a possible NCAA Tournament berth. Cincinnati fell to 1-10 in Quad 1 games this season.
Houston: The Cougars continue to help their cause for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with their 21st win in 22 games. Houston improved to 15-4 in Quad 1 and 2 games this season, with all of its losses coming in Quad 1 games.
Trailing 10-2 with 13½ minutes left in the first half, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson called timeout, and Cryer hit a jumper out of it to start a 18-2 run. Houston led 37-25 at the half.
Houston dominated the paint with a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Houston hosts Kansas on Monday, and Cincinnati hosts Kansas State on Wednesday.
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1st Half
CINCY
Bearcats
25
HOU
Cougars
37
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Cougars gains possession)
19:37
J'Wan Roberts misses two point layup
19:35
Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
19:17
Day Day Thomas misses three point jump shot
19:15
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
19:01
+2
Joseph Tugler makes two point hook shot (L.J. Cryer assists)
0-2
18:41
Dillon Mitchell misses two point jump shot
18:39
Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
18:32
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
18:30
Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
18:01
Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
17:59
Milos Uzan defensive rebound
17:53
Milos Uzan misses two point layup
17:51
Jizzle James defensive rebound
17:40
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot
2-2
17:17
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
17:15
Bearcats defensive rebound
16:46
Day Day Thomas misses two point jump shot
16:44
Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
16:38
Day Day Thomas personal foul
16:35
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
16:33
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
16:13
+3
Dillon Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)
5-2
15:53
Day Day Thomas personal foul
15:53
TV timeout
15:36
Milos Uzan misses two point jump shot
15:34
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
15:10
+2
Josh Reed makes two point jump shot
7-2
14:39
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
14:37
Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
14:27
J'Wan Roberts personal foul
14:13
Tyler Betsey misses three point jump shot
14:11
Dillon Mitchell offensive rebound
13:57
Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
13:55
Dan Skillings Jr. offensive rebound
13:53
J'Wan Roberts personal foul
13:47
Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (Milos Uzan steals)
13:36
Milos Uzan misses two point jump shot
13:34
Tyler Betsey defensive rebound
13:28
+3
Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)
10-2
13:22
Cougars 30 second timeout
13:02
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot
10-4
12:43
Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (Mylik Wilson steals)
12:31
Dillon Mitchell personal foul
12:20
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
12:18
Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
11:56
Ja'Vier Francis turnover (out of bounds)
11:56
Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (traveling)
11:56
TV timeout
11:37
Terrance Arceneaux misses two point jump shot
11:35
Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
11:34
Arrinten Page personal foul
11:34
+1
Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 1 of 1
10-5
11:34
+1
Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-6
11:11
Arrinten Page misses two point hook shot
11:09
Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
10:48
Ja'Vier Francis turnover (traveling)
10:37
Dillon Mitchell misses three point jump shot
10:35
Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
10:30
Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
10:28
Cougars offensive rebound
10:25
Dillon Mitchell personal foul
10:14
Terrance Arceneaux misses two point jump shot
10:12
Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
10:11
+2
Joseph Tugler makes two point layup
10-8
10:11
Josh Reed shooting foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
10:11
+1
Joseph Tugler makes regular free throw 1 of 1
10-9
9:52
Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
9:50
Dan Skillings Jr. offensive rebound
9:43
Joseph Tugler blocks Jizzle James's two point layup
9:41
Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
9:30
+2
Terrance Arceneaux makes two point layup
10-11
9:11
Simas Lukošius turnover (Emanuel Sharp steals)
9:06
+2
Mylik Wilson makes two point layup
10-13
8:41
Dan Skillings Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:39
Bearcats offensive rebound
8:18
Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
8:13
Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
8:13
Dan Skillings Jr. personal foul
8:13
+1
Joseph Tugler makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-14
8:13
Joseph Tugler misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:13
Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
8:04
Aziz Bandaogo turnover (offensive goaltending)
7:52
+2
Milos Uzan makes two point jump shot
10-16
7:49
Bearcats 30 second timeout
7:49
TV timeout
7:22
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot
12-16
6:50
+2
Terrance Arceneaux makes two point jump shot
12-18
6:36
Tyler Betsey turnover (Mylik Wilson steals)
6:32
+2
Mylik Wilson makes two point layup
12-20
6:23
Mylik Wilson personal foul
6:04
Day Day Thomas misses two point jump shot
6:02
Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
5:58
Milos Uzan turnover (Josh Reed steals)
5:55
Mylik Wilson blocks Day Day Thomas's two point layup
5:53
Jizzle James offensive rebound
5:48
+2
Jizzle James makes two point layup
14-20
5:34
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot
14-22
5:33
Day Day Thomas personal foul
5:33
Ja'Vier Francis misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:33
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
5:13
+3
Dan Skillings Jr. makes three point jump shot (Simas Lukošius assists)
17-22
4:50
L.J. Cryer misses two point jump shot
4:48
Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
4:46
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point hook shot
17-24
4:29
Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
4:27
Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
4:19
L.J. Cryer misses two point layup
4:17
Simas Lukošius defensive rebound
4:13
Simas Lukošius turnover (Emanuel Sharp steals)
4:10
Dan Skillings Jr. flagrant 1
4:10
TV timeout
4:10
+1
Emanuel Sharp makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2
17-25
4:10
+1
Emanuel Sharp makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2
17-26
4:02
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
4:00
Bearcats defensive rebound
3:42
Simas Lukošius turnover (Joseph Tugler steals)
3:28
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point layup (Joseph Tugler assists)
17-28
3:15
Emanuel Sharp personal foul
3:12
Joseph Tugler blocks Aziz Bandaogo's two point layup
3:10
Josh Reed offensive rebound
3:06
Josh Reed misses two point layup
3:04
Milos Uzan defensive rebound
2:47
+2
Terrance Arceneaux makes two point layup
17-30
2:28
L.J. Cryer personal foul
2:20
Jizzle James misses two point layup
2:18
Aziz Bandaogo offensive rebound
2:13
+2
Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk
19-30
1:48
+2
Milos Uzan makes two point jump shot
19-32
1:38
+3
Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)
22-32
1:11
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point layup (Joseph Tugler assists)
22-34
0:53
Jizzle James turnover
0:44
+3
Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Milos Uzan assists)
22-37
0:41
Bearcats 30 second timeout
0:33
+3
Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)
25-37
0:01
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
CINCY
Bearcats
39
HOU
Cougars
36
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:50
+3
Day Day Thomas makes three point jump shot (Dillon Mitchell assists)
28-37
19:28
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
19:26
Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
19:18
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot
30-37
18:48
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point hook shot
30-39
18:25
+2
Jizzle James makes two point jump shot
32-39
17:55
Day Day Thomas personal foul
17:37
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Joseph Tugler assists)
32-42
17:19
Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
17:17
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
17:05
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point hook shot
32-44
16:49
Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
16:47
Milos Uzan defensive rebound
16:29
Aziz Bandaogo blocks J'Wan Roberts's two point jump shot
16:27
Cougars offensive rebound
16:26
Josh Reed personal foul
16:10
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point layup (Milos Uzan assists)
32-46
15:56
Emanuel Sharp personal foul
15:56
TV timeout
15:48
+2
Jizzle James makes two point jump shot
34-46
15:22
+2
Milos Uzan makes two point jump shot
34-48
15:00
Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
14:58
Jizzle James offensive rebound
14:53
Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
14:51
Aziz Bandaogo offensive rebound
14:48
+2
Aziz Bandaogo makes two point jump shot
36-48
14:30
Milos Uzan misses three point jump shot
14:28
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
14:28
Joseph Tugler personal foul
14:16
+2
Jizzle James makes two point jump shot
38-48
14:12
Cougars 30 second timeout
14:12
TV timeout
13:44
+2
Terrance Arceneaux makes two point layup (J'Wan Roberts assists)
38-50
13:29
Josh Reed misses two point layup
13:27
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
13:06
+2
Terrance Arceneaux makes two point jump shot
38-52
12:43
Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
12:41
Cougars defensive rebound
12:16
Aziz Bandaogo blocks Mylik Wilson's two point layup
12:14
Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
11:50
Dan Skillings Jr. misses two point jump shot
11:48
Cougars defensive rebound
11:47
TV timeout
11:35
+2
Mylik Wilson makes two point jump shot
38-54
11:09
+2
Dillon Mitchell makes two point dunk (Dan Skillings Jr. assists)
40-54
10:49
+2
J'Wan Roberts makes two point jump shot
40-56
10:29
Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
10:27
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
10:05
J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
10:03
Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
9:54
+2
Jizzle James makes two point layup
42-56
9:37
+2
Emanuel Sharp makes two point layup (Mylik Wilson assists)
42-58
9:26
Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
9:25
Bearcats offensive rebound
9:25
Terrance Arceneaux personal foul
9:04
Bearcats turnover (shot clock violation)
8:52
Aziz Bandaogo personal foul
8:50
Milos Uzan turnover (bad pass) (Day Day Thomas steals)
8:50
Mylik Wilson personal foul
8:28
Dan Skillings Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:26
L.J. Cryer defensive rebound
8:20
+2
L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot
42-60
8:17
Bearcats 30 second timeout
8:17
TV timeout
7:56
+2
Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk (Jizzle James assists)
44-60
7:32
+2
Mylik Wilson makes two point jump shot (Terrance Arceneaux assists)
44-62
7:11
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot
46-62
6:56
+3
L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot
46-65
6:28
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot
48-65
6:06
Terrance Arceneaux misses three point jump shot
6:04
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
5:51
Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (Josh Reed draws the foul)
5:51
+1
Josh Reed makes regular free throw 1 of 2
49-65
5:51
+1
Josh Reed makes regular free throw 2 of 2
50-65
5:42
Mylik Wilson turnover (lost ball) (Jizzle James steals)
5:39
Mylik Wilson shooting foul (Jizzle James draws the foul)
5:39
Jizzle James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:39
+1
Jizzle James makes regular free throw 2 of 2
51-65
5:35
Milos Uzan turnover (bad pass) (Josh Reed steals)
5:31
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point layup
53-65
5:18
Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
5:16
Josh Reed defensive rebound
5:10
Emanuel Sharp personal foul
5:10
+1
Jizzle James makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-65
5:10
Jizzle James misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:10
Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
4:44
+2
Ja'Vier Francis makes two point layup
54-67
4:27
+2
Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot
56-67
3:55
+2
Emanuel Sharp makes two point layup
56-69
3:44
Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
3:42
Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
3:20
Milos Uzan misses three point jump shot
3:18
Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
3:10
Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
3:08
J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
2:43
L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
2:41
Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
2:34
J'Wan Roberts blocks Jizzle James's two point layup
2:34
Bearcats offensive rebound
2:34
TV timeout
2:22
Milos Uzan shooting foul (Day Day Thomas draws the foul)
2:22
+1
Day Day Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2
57-69
2:22
+1
Day Day Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
58-69
2:12
Jizzle James personal foul
1:54
Milos Uzan misses two point jump shot
1:52
Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
1:41
Bearcats 60 second timeout
1:32
Aziz Bandaogo misses two point layup
1:30
Cougars defensive rebound
1:23
L.J. Cryer turnover (lost ball) (Jizzle James steals)
1:20
Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
1:20
Cougars defensive rebound
1:20
Josh Reed personal foul
1:08
Josh Reed personal foul
1:02
Cougars 30 second timeout
0:57
L.J. Cryer turnover (lost ball) (Jizzle James steals)
0:53
+2
Jizzle James makes two point layup (Day Day Thomas assists)
60-69
0:50
Simas Lukošius personal foul
0:50
+1
L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 1 of 2
60-70
0:50
+1
L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 2 of 2
60-71
0:45
Day Day Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Milos Uzan steals)
